He is committed to the word of God
A biblical man’s primary and single pursuit is to bring glory to God. He strives to know the word of God and carries out His will. He does not go about setting his own agenda. The word of God is a lamp to his feet and a light to his path. He knows and obeys the Lord’s commands. That was Adams responsibility; to obey and keep the command God had given him. The same responsibility was given to Moses who labored to remind the children of Israel when he said, “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Paul through the Spirit also instructs fathers to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of God
In line with knowing and obeying the word of God is teaching it to others. A man who does not teach the word of God to his family is not carrying out Gods purpose for his life. It is instructive that God gave the command to Adam not to eat of the fruit. By implication it was Adams responsibility to teach his wife the word of the Lord. I am highly convinced that women should not marry men who are not committed to the word of God. Now I do not necessarily mean women should look for Bible scholars but should look for men who are committed to the word of God and will let the word be their rule of faith and practice.
He is committed to work
Adam was commanded to work before the fall. And God had set an example for him to follow. God worked by creating the world in six days, even though he did not have to work. When God created Adam he asked him to exercise dominion and subdue the earth by taking care of the garden and naming the animals. Adam was required to exert energy and produce work of excellence. The labor of his hands was supposed to be very good. A biblical man does not shy away from nor avoid labor, he does not cut corners or look for quick fixes, he does not engage in get rich quick schemes, he does not opt for the easy way out and avoid responsibility, he does not view work as just a necessary evil or just a means of earning money and neither does he produce mediocre work. A biblical man enjoys work because he views it as a service to the Lord. He recognizes that his work is to be very good.
Laziness is unbiblical, unchristian and unmanly! Solomon’s rebuke rings loud when he says, “Go to the ant you sluggard and learn its ways.” It was the design of our Creator that we should work and subdue the earth. There is, however, a difference between being committed to work and being a workaholic. The Lord rested to teach us the importance of resting. It is often a sign of misplaced priorities and disorganization when someone has to work all the?time and not rest (I pause and repent at this time). There is a time to work and a time to rest, a biblical man must have?a good balance between the two.
He is committed to family
What often sufferers when we cross the line and become workaholics is the family. After God had created Adam and given him a mandate to obey the word and work in the garden, He saw that it was not good for the man to be alone. God created a suitable helper for Adam, a woman. Eve was to be Adams companion (helper) in carrying out the purposes God had created him for. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and the two shall become one flesh (family). Adam now had the responsibility of leading his family to follow and please the Lord. No wonder the Lord confronted Adam first when he and Eve disobeyed! Adam was the federal head.
We can put it this way; the man is responsible for providing physically and spiritually for his family, and he is responsible for protecting them physically and spiritually as well. In other words the Lord is going to hold us accountable for how we lead our family spiritually (I have to repent once more). The wife of a biblical man will be more spiritually mature after marrying him because he leads and guides her in the ways of God, the children are also impacted. Jim Berg is spot on when he says: “A man’s home is not his castle, his hunting lodge, his crash pad, his entertainment center, or his business center. It is where he exercises dominion over the spiritual growth of his family.”
If we are to be honest this is an impossible task. No man can do this in his own ability. The only way a man can truly be a biblical man is if he has experienced the grace of God and is living by the grace of God. If a man is ruling without any conscious dependence upon God in prayer and bible study, his dominion will not bring blessing to those whom he oversees.
If a man’s power is not supernatural he cannot expect supernatural results. If he is sowing to the flesh he will reap destruction; if he sows to the spirit, he will reap life.
– Chopo Mwanza
If you would like to discuss this subject further or you would like more information about CABU you can contact Mr. Kennedy Kaseke, the Admissions Director at +26097 1507807 or email at [email protected].
Our Alumni are serving the Lord in many places across Africa and around the world. Chopo Mwanza, a CABU Alumnus and the lead teaching pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Kitwe, Zambia. He shared the this article on his blog Deeper Reflections. You can read more by checking out his blog?http://chopomwanza.blogspot.com.?This article can be found?here.