Being a Man Means Being...

I’d like to acknowledge, before beginning this article, that I am not a man. So, instead, this was made in conjunction with men that I have spoken with on this topic, as it’s a subject that needs to be broached—and what better way to do it than by the assistance of those that this article actually concerns.

Beginning chronologically with Job, we see a man who has got it all. Wealth, property, a wife and children, let alone the respect of the surrounding nation. Well-known and well-established, Job isn’t falling behind on anything. But then it all collapses.

This is rough. Job, a man of God who has done nothing wrong, has been absolutely attacked by the enemy, and now he’s lost it all. God let him lose it all, in a matter of six verses. While he was still speaking, it says. Now that’s enough to make someone want to give up on the spot. But that's not what Job did. His reaction was this:

Half understandable, and half absolutely insane. This man was so tough, so committed that he still fell down in worship. After all that. To be honest, maybe that’s all he could do. He lost it all—all he had left was his God. But worshipping? It isn’t the easy way to react. How often do we lose the things we work so hard for, and just want to give up? Lash out in anger, or be solitary in a lone stance against the world? We don’t have to lose as much as Job to know what it’s like to experience loss and hardship. But that isn't all.

Job was now physically incapable, his wife and friends (Job 4) had turned against him, and still he didn’t curse God. But I’d like to point out something else. Sure, Job doesn’t curse God—in fact, he leant on God for his only remaining support. But that doesn’t mean Job wasn’t cursing—it doesn’t mean that he wasn't upset. Job wasn’t so heartless as to be singing songs of joy even as his children and family were destroyed. No, the man was broken. He had absolutely given up—even to the point where he wished he wasn’t even born.

But that’s the real lesson here. Through all of this, Job had given up—he was absolutely at the point where death would be preferred over his torment. He was angry, and upset at the world, but he knew God is real, and in his time of need, he never turned his back on the one who could save him. There is only one thing he knew: God is good, despite all the bad. For this alone, God blessed him.

Another man, renowned for his strength, begins his story battling against the odds. He’s a hero to us, as the little guy who stands up against what everyone tells him to do, and wins anyway. The one who commands armies, is beloved by his people, and is destined to take over the throne. That’s who we like to hear about. But so much less often do we think about why he wins those victories. I’ve been reading through the story of David recently, and I am astounded at his method of battle. Because David really doesn’t see himself as the leader. No matter how easy the fight may be, or how many times he’s won, he doesn’t change his one routine: to ask God whether he should go ahead with it first, and to give back the glory once the fight is over. That’s it. That’s David’s plan of attack. And it works every time.

This was after David had his wives and his army’s families taken away from them. The men were tired and angry, almost revolting against him. Of course he was going to chase after them, and get back what was lost. That’s what men are meant to do, right? Fight and protect? But he doesn’t. David, the war hero, doesn’t go and fight immediately. He asks God what to do—and for this, he’s assured success.

But, unfortunately, like us, David was human. The Bible maintains that being a man after God’s own heart is attainable.

That’s how you can be after God’s own heart.

Of course, everything in the Bible is a lot more complicated than that, and this is no exception. But it’s a good place to start.

But these were different times, right? Where God communicated with His people directly, or through established prophets. They knew what He wanted so much more clearly… or did they?

Here, we’ve come to a time where there haven’t been any prophets leading Israel for approximately 400 years. We don’t know if it’s common for people to hear directly from God, but at least in Peter’s case, we can assume it’s not common for him at all.

Peter could be a bit rough—I mean, he was a working man after all. But Jesus doesn’t give up on him—and more than that, Jesus doesn’t ask him to change who he is.

We like Peter because he’s real. He was never rich, a king, or a prophet—he was just a fisherman, something thousands of people are still. When Jesus dies, he returns to what he knows: work.

How many of us would do the same?

Peter was a man’s man. He fought when he felt he should, stood up for what he believed in, and said what was on his mind. During his time with Jesus, he didn’t lose those traits; he just learned how to use them.

Finally, we have Jesus himself. Now, there are endless lessons we can learn through Jesus. After all, we’re all meant to be like Him. But there’s one specific lesson I’d like to bring out today—and that’s of Jesus’ character.

So, as far as I’ve learnt through all my research, being a man is not easy—but it seems a lot better when there’s a focus on God. Again, this is just what I’ve learnt through the help of the men in my life—but do your own research. Read the Bible for yourself, and examine these stories—you may come out with something different.