In this study I want to write about the man’s role in life. Different struggles he goes through, s
uch as his roles as a son, a husband, a dad, a friend, but most of all in his relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
In the beginning, when God was planning to make man, He said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26).
Ever since Adam, man has had trouble with sin. Adam didn’t put his foot down when it came to following Eve, eating of the forbidden fruit. The Bible explains how marriage is supposed to be. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:22-25).
Now this is not saying for a woman to be a slave to her husband, nor that husbands should treat their wives as slaves. Instead, a husband is supposed to love his wife just as Jesus loves the church, even to the extent of giving his life for his wife.
Paul continued, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband” (Ephesians 5:26-33).
The man has a huge responsibility not only in life, but as a husband as well. If the man will put God first, then everything else will fall into place. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Life Today
Growing up in the world today is so much different than it used to be. Nowadays, we have so much more that can easily distract us from God. Cell phones for instance! Phones now are pretty much the same as computers. They can do all the same things and can be damaging to our spiritual lives, but it is all in how you use them. Cell phones, laptops, and Ipads can be used to help you, and you can still have that number-one relationship with God. As a man, it is our job to ensure that these things will not take us away from God. When you get one of these devices, set it up to make sure it will block sinful things.
Man was put on this earth to rule over it as we already read in Genesis. Adam ate the forbidden fruit, and ever since we have been distracted. There are so many things out there to draw us away from God. I am not going to name them all.
We also lost our stedfast faith in God. Jesus said to Peter, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Jesus was talking to Peter when he sank because he got scared when he saw the waves around him. It is like that now, but the waves are our troubles. And it seems like most of the time man only calls out to Jesus when trouble arises. If we would have kept our faith to begin with, we wouldn’t have to worry because God has everything under control. We just need to have trust and faith in Him. Jesus said, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20).
Growing up over the years I learned the need for faith the hard way. It took nearly twenty-seven years to finally just give everything over to God and let Him run the show. I found out that there is no way I can do it on my own. With God as my captain, this ship won’t sink. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalms 119:105).
If man would just follow Jesus like we are supposed to, things would be a lot better. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
In King David’s last words, he said, “I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;… That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel” (1 Kings 2:2, 4).
Life nowadays is way different than when our parents grew up. Relationships for example; they don’t last as long anymore. It is sad! The average marriage now is 8-10 years. My mom and dad have been married for almost thirty-five years. That is a long time! Marriage does take two, but it is the man’s responsibility to do what he has to do to ensure God is involved in the relationship. Even the relationships with our children! Show them the way so that when they grow up they will be men answerable to God.
The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Before the flood came, “…GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). Noah did as God had told him to do.
We get caught up on earthly things. It is so easy to get distracted. Now I know the importance of following Jesus. I didn’t used to. I am not perfect. I do still get caught on worldly things. I am “…confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in [me] will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). “…choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
I used to live my life in the fast lane. I used to care what people thought about me, but now I am a man and don’t care what people think about me. I, as a Christian and as a man, live my life for God, to serve Him.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2_Timothy 3:16, 17).
It is man’s responsibility!!!
(Jesse is one of the inmates with whom I have been studying when I visit a local jail. Please pray for him and the other brethren incarcerated around the world. “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body” (Hebrews 13:3). Editor)
