Advice for a youngster on godly manhood

Dear Silas,

Just yesterday it seems, you were wound tight in that little “burrito wrap” at the hospital. At 5 pounds, 8 ounces, you were working on your leg strength as you kicked and flexed. Your twin sister, well, she was being a girly girl, her hands drawn to her cheeks and making girly motions. Six years have flown by. At your age, it’s great to be a boy, isn’t it?

Bud, I know we talk a lot about God and how not everybody loves Jesus. Some people just haven’t heard about his love, and others, despite your bewilderment, decide they don’t want him.

You understand a few things, and I’m proud of you for understanding some things that surprise me. You get miffed at bad stuff, like when I explained to you what a casino was after we passed one in the car. Remember, you wanted to turn around on the Interstate and do something very illegal so those poor people wouldn’t lose any more money? Your sister’s proposal was more merciful; she wanted to go inside and tell them about Jesus.

That’s a righteous impulse, son, even if it’s the wrong approach. I’m glad that you love the right and hate the wrong, so long as you realize that you, too, do wrong stuff sometimes. We all do.

You are a kid and your perspective of the world is limited. But that will change soon enough?in this day and age, probably sooner than necessary. So even if what I write here doesn’t make much sense, it will later.

So let me get right to it: This world is a messed-up place ? but God has a plan to redeem it. Too many people despair at the former without comprehending the latter. Meanwhile, you’ll need God and his word to make sense of it all and to navigate your way.

King Solomon (King David’s son) talked a lot about a man’s days “under the sun.” As I’ve told you numerous times?nothing is easy, everything is hard.

Such hardship is a result of Adam and Eve’s sin, and people have been having a hard time ever since. Next time you have trouble tying your shoes or writing your practice words or shooing a fly from your cheeseburger, remember that.

I suppose if everything were easy, we might forget God. As it is, the wise man calls on him for help moment by moment. You’d be wise to do the same, and even more so when things are easy and life is good.

More than anything, I want you to know what a godly man looks like. I’m a distorted picture of that, but Jesus fills up the picture frame perfectly.

Throughout his perfect treasure of instruction called the Bible, he gives us “all things pertaining to life and godliness.”

In that great treasure, I see three of these things (among others) that cover a lot of spiritual ground, and they are inextricably wrapped together.

SOBER-MINDEDNESS
You would do well to pursue sober-mindedness. This doesn’t mean sad-face syndrome, by the way.

Above all, godly sober-mindedness starts with a sound theology. Know who God is, know his attributes and his ways, and never forget your utterly depraved state apart from his grace. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Surely, the beginning of fear is a biblical theology.

Ephesians 5:15-17 says this: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

To be sober-minded is to walk in a careful and watchful manner, not in endless horseplay or detached apathy. Responsibility has a way of maturing people to sober-mindedness, so embrace it, whether through gainful work or military service or some other righteous burden.

Yes, enjoy yourself, your work and your blessings. Just know that responsibility trumps amusement. Each has its place. But the real man answers when responsibility calls.

You’ll need Ephesians 5:15-17. Write it on the tablet of your heart.

SELF DISCIPLINE
A second indispensable tool for a godly man is self discipline.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:27: “[B]ut I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”

Disciplining one’s body pays dividends beyond the physical. And of course, physical discipline involves the mind, will and emotions.

The spiritual disciplines are vital. Regular prayer, Bible study, meditating on Scripture and fasting (I need to do all of these more) will help prepare you to stand under the pressure of temptation. God promises us that. Our part is to be watchful and willing. So discipline yourself in all ways with a godly purpose in mind.

SELF DENIAL
You know how Jesus suffered a brutal beating and then went to the cross in the ultimate act of self denial. “If any man should come after me,” Jesus said, “let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”

The call to discipleship is a radical call to die to self, which has made not a few would-be disciples grab the plowshare only to turn back. It’s the acid test of the true believer that one would relinquish his own lordship for Christ’s.

We live in a self-worshipping culture. Want to blow people away? Deny yourself for God and others. In fact, Scripture says to consider others more important than yourself.

You are never more like Jesus than when you are doing that, especially for your wife and kids when that day comes.

Silas, this is just a small bit of advice. I hope to add more later. In the meantime, enjoy being a kid, because the burdens of manhood will arrive soon enough. Keep looking to Jesus.

Love, Dad