My church does a great job of tackling "hot topics" in a biblical way, breaking them down piece-by-piece in a manner that is relevant and applicable to both college students and adults. One of the reasons I love Midtown Fellowship is because they don't shy away from topics that can often be difficult to talk about. This past Sunday, our pastor addressed the concept of masculinity, and what exactly a Godly man looks like.
The outline we studied is a great guide for anyone, male or female, whether happily single, dating, or hopelessly devoted. It highlighted three fundamental points that a Godly man should direct his attention to. It's up to women to encourage, celebrate, and expect these traits in men, and it's up to men to actively reach for these pillars as their foundation. As a single woman, patiently waiting for whatever man God has tucked away (I mean, really hidden), this message really spoke to me.
1. A man of God pursues.
Our pastor described the word "pursuit" as having the intention to leave something better than it was when you found it. "Whenever there is untapped potential, pursue it. Pursue life, create order when things are disorderly." A man's job is to pursue a woman not only romantically, but also emotionally and spiritually, by striving to build her up to be the best she can be. Okay, so maybe your man doesn't always push you to do better, be better, feel better... but he doesn't necessarily do the opposite, so that's not too bad, right?
Wrong. The opposite of pursuit is doing nothing, passively. Guys, this is the basis of why we sometimes get so frustrated with you, even if you feel like you're doing "nothing wrong." By pursuing a relationship with God first and foremost, and then incorporating that into his romantic relationship, a man is in the business of leaving a woman better than she was before he found her.
2. A man of God provides.
Your immediate reaction to this statement might take you immediately to an image of a classic family man, the breadwinner, the financial supporter of the house. While all of these things do in fact fall under the umbrella of "provision," there's so much more to this step than that. Genesis 2:15 says, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." Man was made to cultivate, to help grow the people and things around him, and to create life where life is absent. We talked about how providing means others go before yourself. A man should take on this posture of sacrifice, to live a life of "exhausting servitude."
3. A man of God protects.
Similar to providing for those around him, a man should also go out of his way to protect the people he loves. In some ways, this goes without saying; the stereotype of a big, strong man is just that: strong. But protection doesn't simply mean offering to "rough up" someone who poses a threat. "The boy goes down, so the girl can go free." This mentality sums up the idea that a man should be ready and willing to step in place of someone in danger, whether that danger be physical, emotional, or spiritual.
