It Takes a Man

There are many things that women can do and there are many things that only women can do, but for now let us think about what it takes a man to do.

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It takes a man to be a Husband.

It takes a better man to be a good husband.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself... (Ephesians 5.25-33)

It takes a man to be a Dad. A woman cannot be a husband or a dad any more than a fish can be a bird, any more than a volcano can be the Pacific Ocean or any more than a man can be a wife or a mom.

Dads can and sometimes must do some of the things we may be used to seeing women do. A man can be a great cook. It doesn't have to be the woman. Ladies may have to take on some of the role of a Dad, especially in the absence of the man. A man may be an excellent nurse. I knew a little lady who was an outstanding mechanic.

But it still takes a man to be a Dad.

It takes a better man to be a good dad.

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6.4)

There is a fine line between the need to discipline and the need to show love and compassion. Blessed is that man who can walk that tightrope. The best way to learn to walk a tightrope is to walk a tightrope.

Any man can get angry
But it takes a better man to forgive.

Any man can remember
But a better man will know how to forget.

Most any man can act tough
But a godly man also knows how to be tender.

Any man can try to self sufficiently pull himself up by his own bootstraps
But a real man knows how to depend upon his God and Creator.

Any man can easily be a loner
But a man of grace knows how to be a friend.

Any man can drink himself drunk
But a true man shows restraint and sobriety.

Any man can be a sorehead
But a man among men knows how to laugh at himself and roar with joy.

Any man can be petty
But a better man will let the small things stay small.

Any man can run when danger comes upon him
But a real man will defend his family, his community, his country and what is right even if he must die doing so.

Any man can be right
But a man of integrity will admit it when he's wrong.

Any man can lay back and take it easy and should at times if he can,
But the big man will take responsibility and get up and go to work.

Any man (just about) can grow a beard
But the right kind of man can grow a boy.

Most men know how to make money
But the great man knows what is valuable.

When God created human beings, he created a man first, then the woman. It wasn't until they both came into existence that God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. That wouldn't have been true without the woman, but neither would it have been true without the man.

It takes a boy to make a man, but it usually takes a man to help a boy find his way through life and that same man may be needed to help his boys and his girls find their Creator and Savior.

Watch ye, stand in the faith; be men, be strong; (1 Corinthians 16.13) [i]

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[i] Young’s Literal Translation