Manhood In The Bible

Being a man today can be tough. The society a boy grows up in has a wide variety of ideals of what it is to be a man. A boy may see many contradictions of what it takes to be a man depending on the digital media he sees or the company he keeps. It can be difficult to make any sense out what it means to be a man. One avenue shows boys they can grow up to wear makeup and dress like women. Some boys are influenced by their upbringing, where they want to show women dominance by abuse or neglect. As boys mature they can be influenced by many different avenues in this ever-changing world, yet they can build a sturdy foundation of manhood in the Bible. The Bible is a way to navigate the winding road of this world and provides a straight and narrow

The Bible shows men, as well as women what God’s expectations are of them. These expectations could be different from a mans upbringing or the opinions of those around him. These expectations include: Seeking God first and foremost, being the leader of his family, being courageous in his walk with God, being bold despite what the world thinks and being humble, not allowing pride to control his life. Carlsbad wrote, “Masculinity and manhood is cool and all, but in many ways the best example of biblical manhood was a very gentle and tender Christ.” (2014) While being masculine is a trait of many men, the Bible doesn’t put emphasis on being a rough and tough masculine man. Being a servant leader and humble is more of a priority. “But thou, O’ man of God, flee these things; and Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:11-12

This includes being a leader out in the world and in his home. “The Bible instructs men to lead their families and often refers to leadership as shepherding. God designed the church, in part, to equip men to do the work of the ministry, and ministry begins at home.” (Navey, 2014) Being a servant leader is a vital part of biblical manhood. Jesus is clear on how man should be a servant leader in Luke 22:25-26, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves” Being a servant leader considers the joy of others that he is leading while working along side