As we look into our society today, we can see a poverty of REAL men. We could see how women are being empowered while men are maligned, defamed, and shamed. Men are labeled as optional, obsolete, and inferior to women. Many people are asking the question, “Where have all the good men gone?”
As Christian men, we are called to a higher standard. God expects us to become a man after His own heart. This means that the expectation of us, men, are higher than those who are outside of our faith.
Are you living upin the expectation God has for you? Are you raising the bar to become a better man each passing day? Do you have the courage to stand out from the ordinary to extraordinary?
In this blog post, let me share with you the qualities that every Christian man should possess. It is time to MAN UP!
Table of Contents
1. Christian men are protectors
Men must rise up to the challenge and become a protector. He is not an oppressor but a PROTECTOR of the weak! From a physical point of view, God designed men to be stronger than women (I Peter 3:7). We are endowed with certain attributes that put us, men, to a unique position to protect others.
We need to protect women, children, weak, and the defenseless. Christian men must be willing to protect other people even if this will mean inconvenience, harm, and even death.
2. Christian men are gentlemen
Though we are stronger than women, this does not mean that we have the license to subjugate them. Being a gentleman means that you make the welfare of women more important than yours. Being a gentleman means that you have the willingness to accept discomfort for the sake of putting a woman in a better position.
A gentleman opens a door for a young or old lady, offers himself for carrying heavy loads, walks along the danger side of the road, gives his coat or jacket, respects women, passes sincere compliments, helps ladies to be seated, says polite words, and many others.
3. Christian men use their time wisely
It saddens me to see how many of my friends waste their time playing video games, mindlessly surfing the Internet, and watching unproductive TV shows. It is just a complete waste of time! I would also admit that I am guilty of this.
We must realize that killing time is among the greatest crimes ever committed by man. Once you waste time, it will never be taken back. It is gone FOREVER. We must take heed the words of the Apostle Paul when he said we should be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).
4. Christian men improve themselves
There are a lot of things to improve on in this life and even when you are already in your death bed, you will still be learning until your last breath. This means that you will never run out of things to improve on.
So instead of wasting your time playing video games and watching mindless entertainment, why not exercise and develop your physical strengths. Seek to improve your health.
Read books! Most great men on this earth have written their ideas in a book. There is no better way to become a better man than to read the minds of these successful people. Above all, read the Bible. This will be the greatest investment of your time.
Learn new talents. It is never too late to learn how to play a new musical instrument. You can also learn some manly skills like plumbing, carpentry, electrical works, and others.
The biggest room is the room for improvement. Recognize the things that you can improve on and work on it!
5. Christian men should have the right goals in life
A man without any ambition is a man without passion and drive. Christian men should have a direction in their life. We must have short-, mid-, and long-term goals in life. Our ultimate goal is to be in the Kingdom of God and from there, we must plan our life according to our ultimate goal.
Christian men should have a clear understanding of what they want to be. When they finally set a goal, they must have the drive, resourcefulness, and ability to achieve it.
6. Christian men know how to say sorry
Men are naturally inclined to preserve their pride and ego. We have the tendency not to admit when we are wrong but instead use every excuse in the book. Pride is part of our human nature that we need to overcome!
If we know that we have committed a mistake, it will not make you a lesser man to say sorry. Imagine if most of our world leaders just know how to say sorry; this world could have been a better place to live in!
7. Christian men accept responsibilities
We will forever remain boys if we don’t accept responsibilities. One way to become more matured is to make a decision and have the courage to accept the outcome of our decision.
We must have the willingness to take responsibility for our own actions and not blame it on others when things go wrong. Like Adam who blamed Eve for giving him the fruit, we are just postponing our growth process and even retarding it to some point.
8. Christian men do not compromise godly principles
We are commanded to come out of the world and be separate. Though this world is morally decaying, we are expected to live according to godly principles. No matter how much pressure the society may put on us, we must NEVER compromise our Christian values. We must have the courage to stand up for what’s right even if it means standing alone.
9. Christian men keep their word
Psalms 14:4 tells us that we must honor our word even to the point of hurting us. Christian men should not carelessly promise something and not have the intention to really keep that promise. That is just a complete opposite of what God expects from us.
Jesus said that our yes should be yes and no should be no. If we say that we will be there at 10 am, then we must be there at 10 am. Christian men consider very well the words they say. If he said that he will do something, then will honor his word and do that.
Honoring one’s word should be a solid part of ourselves to the point that it defines us in the eyes of other people.
10. Christian men have a heart of a servant
Christian men are not selfish. They have a heart of a servant. They always find time to volunteer in helping out others. They make it a point that they will serve in the church and not just go to church services and warm their seat. They recognize that they have a work to do and are not willing to just fold their hands and wait for others to do it.
A Christian man who volunteers have a very strong heart because he is not motivated by greed, power, money, or anything else. He serves without thinking of being reciprocated. He serves because of his outgoing concern for the brethren and other people.
11. Christian men are passionate about doing the work of God
Our top priority as Christian men is to do the mission that God has given to us. This means that we must be motivated to preach the Gospel in all the world and prepare ourselves for the coming Kingdom of God.
We must be FULL OF PASSION for the truth. Christian men are not in the church for nothing. We are called to do the GREATEST work on earth and that is to proclaim the good news that God will one day establish His Kingdom here on earth and make all things right again.
12. Christian men treat women with great respect
Women are very special. They are given by God under the care of the men. This means that Christian men should not play around with the emotion of women. Christian men are not to take women for granted. They must be treated with love and respect.
Respecting women also mean becoming the right husband. This means that we, as Christian men, should prepare ourselves to eventually become the right husband who is equipped with the physical, emotional, mental, financial, and spiritual abilities to properly rule his future household.
13. Christian men control their emotions
When strong emotions set in, it is very difficult to control it. As this might be the case, Christian men should do their best to control their emotions, be it fear, infatuation or anger. Making decisions based on unstable emotion will surely lead to future regrets.
14. Christian men influence others to be better
Whether you like it or not, you will be an example to others. Therefore, choose to be a good one. Christian men cannot influence others if they preach something and completely do the opposite. It will never work that way. His life should be a living sermon to others. This is the best way to influence others.
Christian men encourage, inspire, and motivate his brethren. When they see other people struggling in their Christian walk, they will step up and offer themselves. Therefore, a Christian man is active and never passive. They have the initiative to do the things that needed to be done.
15. Christian men have Jesus as their ultimate role model
The Apostle Paul has Jesus as his role model. He said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1). Jesus Christ lived a perfect and sinless life. He showed us the right way to live. Therefore, if there would be a person we should look up to, it must be our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.
I recognize that my list is not complete and might not even be perfect. But this last point would surely make all things right. If you let the life, example, and commandments of Jesus govern your life, I am most certain and sure that you will eventually become a man after God’s own heart!
Final words
We are not ordinary men but we are CHRISTIAN MEN called to be holy, sanctified, and to be a future son of God. We have the greatest privilege to have the opportunity to reign with God in His Kingdom. That will only be possible if you develop the godly character of a real Christian.
God is searching for real Christian men. Will you be one of them?
