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The Bible has several principles and precepts for the
setting up of homes. (1) Sons marry and daughters are given
in marriage (Gen. 2:24). (2) The father is the protector of
his daughter’s chastity (Deut. 22:13-21 and Exod. 22:16-17).
(3) Marriage is a covenant commitment between a man and a
woman to God and His Word, His principles and His precepts
and His laws that govern the marriage union.
The father is to protect his daughter, and to prepare the
son. David told Solomon, “Shew thyself a man” (1 Kings 2:2).
David was not perfect. But David’s moral failures did not
stop him from teaching Solomon what he must do to be a godly
man.
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Your experiences/failures, do not determine what you teach
your children. The Bible does.
What a godly Man is not
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A godly man is not determined by age. A boy does not become
a man when he has reached a certain age. “Let no man despise
thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word,
in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity”
(1 Tim. 4:12).
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A godly man is not defined by physical
strength/attractiveness. Solomon’s brother, Absalom was
physically strong and attractive (2 Sam. 14:25-26). But he
was not a godly man.
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A godly man is not determined by power/influence
Absalom was as influential as he was attractive (2 Sam.
15:1-6). But he used the gifts to advance his own personal
interests.
What a godly man is
What is a godly man? “At the heart of mature masculinity is
a sense of benevolent responsibility to lead, provide for
and protect women in ways appropriate to a man’s differing
relationships.” (John Piper, Recovering Biblical Manhood
and Womanhood). A godly man is one who leads, provides
for, and protects.
A. Provide with Diligence
After the fall of Adam, God told him, “In the sweat of thy
face shalt thou eat bread” (Gen. 3:17-19). Adam’s primary
function was to labour and to provide for Eve and the
family.
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A godly man labours to provide for his family.
“But
if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of
his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than
an infidel” (1 Tim. 5:8).
B. Lead by Serving
A godly man leads by example. David is saying to Solomon, “I
have walked in God’s ways, and I want you to follow me.
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A godly husband and father must be able to say to his
wife and children, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am
of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1; 4:16; Eph. 5:1).
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Use the Bible’s list of qualifications for elders (1
Tim. 3) as a checklist for training your sons or choosing
your sons-in-law.
C. Protect with Sacrifice
A godly man protects.
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The father must protect the honour of his daughter.
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The young man must protect the honour of the lady whom you
are courting by exercising self-control and practising
gentlemanly etiquette.
Conclusion
David said to Solomon – “Be thou strong therefore, and shew
thyself a man” (1 Kings 2:2). Later, Solomon said of David,
“And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David
my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in
truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart
with thee” (1 Kings 3:6).
Fathers, will your sons say the same about you that Solomon
said of David? |
