DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
TO BE A REAL MAN OF GOD?
In Judges 6:12, God's angel called Gideon a “mighty man of valor,” even though Gideon didn't think of himself as that at all. As a matter of fact, Gideon thought that he was the least in the whole kingdom and thus was the last one in the kingdom that God should be calling a mighty man of valor. But God was not calling Gideon based on man's interpretation of what a mighty man is, but rather on what God's interpretation is. And that is, simply, God does not count the strongest men to be more superior. He doesn't count the most skilled men to be superior either. He looks at men in a whole different perspective than what men look at their selves. And because Gideon thought of himself as the least in the kingdom, in God's eyes, that made him the greatest in the kingdom.
You see, God does not recognize and reward male macho attitudes as being something great. No! God recognizes and rewards men who are humble as being the greatest and the mightiest of men. The truth is that there are two ways to look at what a “real” man is: (1) What God SAYS a real man Is, and (2) What the world THINKS a real man is supposed to be.
In the physical world we live in, this is what it says about real men:
(1) Real Men Are Macho
(2) Real Men Never Cry
(3) Real Men Run The Show
(4) Real Men Swagger
(5) Real Men Woo Women Like Trophies
(6) Real Men Buys Things To Impress Others
(7) Real Men Work Out With Weights To Show Off Their Muscles
(8) Real Men Should Brag About Their Conquests So They Can Look Good To Other Guys
(9) Real Men Likes To Control Others
(10) Real Men Should Be Full Of Arrogance In Order To Be More Manly
(11) Real Men Should Brag To Make Themselves Seem More Important
(12) Real Men Are Allowed To Manipulate Others To Get Their Own Way
(13) Real Men Are Allowed To Give In To Group Or Peer Pressure Because After All Everyone Else Is Doing It Too!
(14) Real Men Should Spend More Time Involved With Sports Than Church
(15) Real Men Are Allowed To Cuss & Swear Because It's The Manly Thing To Do
There is one characteristic that every one of the above 15 fleshly thoughts have in common, and that is they all are selfish and are 100% contrary to who God wants to use to advance His Kingdom. That's not saying that there is anything wrong with working out, or to have confidence in oneself, it just cannot be the sole emphasis as a “real” man.
On the other hand, just look below at all the men God liked to use in the Bible, and as a man, who may not have everything together yet, the next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...
- Noah was a drunk
- Abraham was too old
- Isaac was a daydreamer
- Jacob was a liar
- Moses had a stuttering problem
- Joseph was abused and his brothers hated him
- Gideon was afraid & had self -esteem issues
- Peter denied Christ
- Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
- David had an affair and was a murderer
- Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
- Paul was too religious
- Elijah was suicidal
- Isaiah preached naked
- Jonah ran from God
- Zaccheus was too small
- Job went bankrupt
- John the Baptist ate bugs
- The Disciples fell asleep while praying
- Timothy had an ulcer
- AND... Lazarus was dead!
Now, please hear me, and hear me good: all of these examples are NOT given to let you know that it's okay to do them!!! It is NOT okay to get drunk; it is NOT okay to be a womanizer; it is NOT okay to commit fornication or adultery; it is NOT okay to be a liar; and it is NOT okay to run around naked! All of these examples are only given to us in order to show us that God can use anybody He wants to. He does so to show us that we don't have to be perfect in order for Him to use us as men. He can reach down and use us even if we do mess up. But it is not His will for us to test His leniency.
The whole issue is – are we WILLING to be submissive to God's hand moving in our life? Are we WILLING to not strut around like a peacock, acting like we are God's gift to the Church? Are we WILLING to admit when we are wrong, and ask God for His help? For, you see, these are the kind of men that God wants to use in this hour to reach the lost, to be the head of our homes, to be men of purpose and vision. And, if we are willing, then maybe, just maybe, we are on our way to learning if we have what it takes to be a “real” man of God.