Man Up!

Two weeks ago I was in Las Vegas for a conference. It was a trip that I'd been dreading, after all the city has the nickname "Sin City" and I had been hearing stories of what it was like to walk up and down 'the strip'; the sights and sounds associated with that walk. Men handing out cards of naked women, business cards for the sexual immorality for sale in Vegas. The gambling and the excessive drinking. I just didn't want to go. You've likely heard the saying "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" or the newer more popular "what happens in Vegas stays on Facebook". As it came closer I began to prepare mentally, trying to determine how I was going to handle certain situations. God began to show me that this was going to be an opportunity to display to my traveling companions, in deep contrast, what my life was all about. You see, God has been shaping me in a remarkable way the last few years. He began quietly, I didn't even know He was doing frankly. But as it became more clear, it became truly desirable. I now look forward to His changes, seeking to make myself available to them. Here is a quick before and after picture for you:

Before	After
a quiet person	a vocal person
self conscious	more confident
timid	bold

If I were to try and describe how these changes regularly display themselves it would be LEADERSHIP.

In my regular reading of the Bible I came across this passage, and four words jumped out at me. Let's take a read, and then we'll discuss the passage briefly.

When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, "I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the LORD may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'
1 Kings 2:2-4

The four words that jumped out at me were, "show yourself a man". In light of these words, I've been considering their meaning from God's perspective compared to man's perspective. You see, Las Vegas would tell you that a man would engage in all of it's available activities:

sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these
Galatians 5:19-21

You might recognize that list, it comes from Galatians. God's standard is so much higher for us than that.

In this passage we are going to see are three main parts:

• a command
• a how to
• a promise

First let's explore the landscape here for a moment. The speaker is King David who is closing in on the end of his days. A short time earlier one of his sons, Adonijah, attempted to set himself up as king even though it was David's intent to have Solomon reign after him. In response David quickly got things organized and had Solomon anointed and installed as King over Israel. We're not certain how much time has passed to this point, but we are made aware that David is very near the end. These words are his fatherly advice to his son.

The command is simple and to the point, and actually reflects the message that David is wanting to get across:

• be strong
• show yourself a man
• keep the charge of the LORD

These all work together, and are the initial steps Solomon is to take as he establishes himself as King. David encourages him to display authority and leadership. Further to our list from Galatians, the tv sitcoms tell us that men are incompetent and wouldn't survive if it went for the women in their lives. This is actually true in many homes, but it was never God's design. You will recall in Genesis that the serpent tempted Eve, who in turn offered to Adam and they both sinned. Yet God created Adam first, and set him to work the garden and take care of it. Eve was then provided as a suitable helper. In that moment of initial sin Adam failed to display leadership through self control and resisting sin, and further more to admonish his wife in speaking truth to her about the command of God. We desperately require leadership in our homes, our work, our churches and society as a whole. The charge is to "Man Up!", and David gives us instruction on how to do this.

The how to is this: walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies. Jesus provided this to us very simply

And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 22:37-40

Part 1 - Love God. That means you put Him first in your life which is active, not passive. Pursue understanding God, pursue righteousness, pursue the fruits of the spirit.
Part 2 - Love others. Again this is active, lovingly lead those around you, share the gospel, speak truth into their lives, not in condemnation but in love. God chooses to display grace and mercy, so should we.

The result of all this is that we will prosper. If our focus is on loving God and others this prosperity will display itself through intangible ways. Your ability to influence those around you will prosper, lives will be changed positively, people will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, things that truly matter.

Boys

• pursue a biblical definition of manliness
• pursue manliness
• take ownership of your faith in Jesus Christ, make it your own
• seek out godly men to be in your life, including but not limited to your father

Young men

• pursue a biblical definition of manliness
• pursue manliness
• take ownership of your faith in Jesus Christ, make it your own
• seek out godly men to be in your life, including but not limited to your father
• seek out your peers and boys with the intention of being a godly influence in their lives

Fathers

• pursue a biblical definition of manliness
• pursue manliness
• take ownership of your faith in Jesus Christ, make it your own
• seek out godly men to be in your life, including but not limited to your father
• seek out your peers, younger men and boys (especially your sons) with the intention of being a godly influence in their lives

Grand Fathers

• pursue a biblical definition of manliness
• pursue manliness
• take ownership of your faith in Jesus Christ, make it your own
• seek out godly men to be in your life
• seek out your peers, younger men (especially your sons) and boys (especially your grandsons) with the intention of being a godly influence in their lives

Older men

• pursue a biblical definition of manliness
• pursue manliness
• take ownership of your faith in Jesus Christ, make it your own
• seek out godly men to be in your life
• seek out your peers, younger men and boys with the intention of being a godly influence in their lives

Earlier we read in Galatians what the world views the definition of a man to be, in closing let's see what God's definition looks like.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22,23

God created us men to lead, actively and by example. Let's go do it!


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