WHEN I BECAME A MAN

Main Scriptures: 2Thess.3:9-10

More Scriptures: Gen.2:24, Matt.19:5, Pro.23:7

The man! Who is he and what are his characteristics? Let me start by saying that the will of God for every husbandman is to be responsible and take up responsibilities. God wants every shepherd to take responsibility for his spiritual life and that of his sheep, the economic, physical, and emotional well-being of his wife and children. The nature of God and Jesus Christ reflect responsibility. God took responsibility for the recreation of the whole earth (Gen.1:1-3). Jesus Christ, the perfect example of the good and godly husband took responsibility to provide, protect and guide His disciples. And because you are made in the image and likeness of God, you have the gene of being a responsible man, husband, and father. All you need to do is to activate the power of God at work in you. 

But who is a man-child? A man-child is that man who is married but still lives like a dependent. He depends on his wife to foot the financial bills of the home, which includes, children’s school fees, house rent, e.t.c. He also depends on his parents for hand-outs and leeches around his father and mother. There is nothing you can trace that he has acquired by reason of his hard work. He cannot think for himself. Another character of the man-child is that he manipulates people around him. He presents himself as caring but behind it is a plot of what he can get from you. He is also self-centered. All he thinks about himself. He has an entitlement-mentality. He threatens his benefactor, be it his wife or parents, of desertion, if they do not give him what he wants. A man-child always seeks for attention. He always wants to prove a point. Now, pause for a moment and meditate on these characteristics. Do you fall into any of these? Well, if yes, there is hope for you. The Scripture says, when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things (1Cor.13:11). So, there are three practical steps you must take to grow into maturity and become THE MAN.

The first is that, you must be mindful of what comes out of your mouth. Your words must reflect true maturity. You must weigh your words before you utter them. The second step is that you must change your perspective and understand the responsibilities that come with being the husbandman-the godly man, husband and father (Eph.3:7, Eph.5:25, Eph.6:4, Deut.6:7-10, Ps.23:1-3, Gal.4:13, Philp.4:8, Num.30:9-12, 1Tim.5:8, 1Tim.3:4-5). Your call to husbandhood is a call to greater responsibilities. The third is your thought pattern. Remember that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Pro.23:7).  You must think responsibility. You must think challenges. You must train your mind to embrace the tasks of being the true shepherd-provider, protector and guardian.

SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

• Father, in the Name of Jesus, deliver me from the power and force of spiritual arrogance and ignorance.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, empower me to take responsibility for my life and that of my wife and children.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, make me fit and proper good and godly shepherd to my wife and children.

FAITH CONFESSION

I refuse to live as a man-child but I commit to take full responsibility for the upkeep and well-being of my wife and children because that is what defines my headship as the good and godly husband in Jesus name. Amen.

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