Biblical manhood is a virtue necessary for humanity to excel. Unfortunately, it is in short supply these days. Learn the three necessities of manhood.
In the beginning, God made humans male and female. Each gender must accept their role and strive to fulfill God’s original intent if they hope to find joy and fulfillment.
The unisex and feminist movements have worked tirelessly to blur the lines between men and women.
If a man is to find God’s will and reach his potential, he must learn and excel in these areas. Click To TweetGender confusion is not an evolutionary step for mankind, but an act of rebellion against God.
Every culture that has defied God’s plan for the sexes has failed.
We must return to God’s original intent for men and women.
Today, we will look at the Bible concept of manhood. As we study the first chapters of the book of Genesis, we learn that God gave Adam three things as soon as he was created.
These three gifts God gave Adam reveal the three necessities for Biblical manhood.
If a man is to find God’s will and reach his potential, he must learn and excel in these areas.
3 Necessities of Manhood
1. Responsibilities
God made men to bear responsibility.
Here are two definitions from Webster’s 1828 dictionary:
RESPONSIBIL´ITY, n. [from responsible.]
1. The state of being accountable or answerable, as for a trust or office, or for a debt.
2. Ability to answer in payment; means of paving contracts.
What does it mean to be responsible?
RESPONS´IBLE, a.
1. Liable to account; accountable; answerable; as for a trust reposed, or for a debt. We are all responsible for the talents entrusted to us by our Creator. A guardian is responsible for the faithful discharge of his duty to his ward. The surety is responsible for the debt of his principal.
2. Able to discharge an obligation; or having estate adequate to the payment of a debt. In taking bail, the officer will ascertain whether the proposed surety is a responsible ma
The Bible shows us three areas of responsibility that God gave Adam.
Dominion
A dominion is a kingdom.
God made men to lead!
Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Men need a kingdom to “rule.” They need areas of life where they are the boss; where success or failure rides upon their work and decisions.
This is not the rule of despot or tyrant. Rather it is the servant leadership of a loving father or faithful shepherd.
Work
God gave men the responsibility to work.
He gave Adam a job to do right away.
Genesis 2:8
And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Men who don’t embrace work become frustrated and feel like losers who don’t contribute.
Read the article “The Biblical Philosophy of Work.”
Every man should be a hard worker.
Family
God made men to provide and protect for their families. If a man succeeds at work or play but fails to care for his family, he is a failure.
1 Timothy 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Caring for your family is more than putting a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. A godly man provides love, acceptance, and emotional security as well.
How does a man learn to be responsible? He must be given opportunities to bear it.
Young men should bear appropriate burdens in their youth.
Lamentations 3:27
It is good for a man that he bears the yoke in his youth.
As young men show responsibility and trustworthiness, their opportunities and freedoms increase.
If a young man is not faithful in small things, they cannot be trusted with big things.
2. Rules
What are rules?
Websters 1828 dictionary says that rules are “That which is established as a principle, standard or directory; that by which any thing is to be adjusted or regulated, or to which it is to be conformed; that which is settled by authority or custom for guidance and direction.”
God gave Adam a rule even though he was in a perfect world.
Genesis 2:9
And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:16–17
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Why? People need rules.
- Rules provide direction. – What to do.
- Rules provide protection. – How to stay on track.
- Rules provide an option. – The choice to obey.
- Rules provide a demonstration. – Proof of obedience.
If you don’t know how to obey God’s rules, you are lacking one of the necessities of manhood.
3. Relationships
God made men to have relationships.
Typically, men define themselves by their work while ladies define themselves by their relationships.
That’s why it’s easy for men to get consumed by their work and not fulfill their responsibilities in life’s relationships.
A man must learn the importance of relationships if he is to become what God made him to be.
A Relationship With God
Genesis 1:26
And God 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.
God wanted fellowship! He made man to be His companion and friend.
Our Lord visited Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden each evening to spend time with them.
Genesis 3:8
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
Sin broke this perfect fellowship with the Creator.
Thankfully, through the salvation provided by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can be restored to fellowship with God.
God wants to be with Man. Once we are saved, we are promised a home in Heaven where we will live eternally with God.
Revelation 21:3
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
God made men to fellowship with Himself.
If your relationship with God is not right, you will struggle with all of life’s responsibilities, rules, and relationships.
A Relationship With Woman
Our Lord knew that man needed a special companion for fellowship just as He did before He created mankind. In His eternal wisdom, God created woman.
Genesis 2:18
And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:21–24
And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
God made man to be married to one woman for life.
Christians must wholeheartedly reject the sex-crazed “hook up” nature of popular culture and practice Biblical morality.
A godly man chooses a godly woman to be a lifelong companion. With God’s grace, he will love her and cherish her all the days of his life.
A Relationship With Children
Our wise Creator us the ability to procreate to multiply the human race.
Genesis 4:1–2
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Humans are not like animals that have offspring and leave them to fend for themselves.
Our loving God made us to have a special relationship with our children.
There is a large difference between having children and being a father.
Children need a loving and engaged father.
Be there for them. Provide a safe environment to grow up in the nurture of unconditional love. Stop your busy life long enough to look them in the eye to hear their thoughts and support their dreams.
Men need their children too.
Children teach us about life. They remind us of the simple things. As they grow up, they are a mirror for our successes and failures.
Protect the important relationships in your life. God gave them to you because you need them as much as they need you.
CONCLUSION
Our world is suffering a drought of Biblical manhood.
Begin to become the man God created you to be today!
P. S. This article is for women too! Every godly woman I know sees the need of godly men in their world. Pass this article on to help spread the truth as you pray for God to raise up men of righteousness and character.