“Man Up”! What a common phrase used today. Used as if to show our dismay that a boy was being “sissy”. It shows our cultures view and expectation of men is to be a buff, weightlifting, full of him-self dude! It is all about power, power, and more power. We look around us and we see, products of what we expect, “real” men!
Ezekiel 22:30 says, “So I sought for a man among them who would stand in the gap before Me ….. but I found no one”! How sad, right? We look around and see lots of real men, and God couldn't even find one! In a whole nation. Could it be guys that we have the whole idea of being a real man all wrong? Is there a chance that our view of masculinity isn't what God had for us? I think we have.
“Help, Lord, for the Godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from the sons of men. They speak idly everyone wit his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak” (Psalms 12:1,2). How ironic that when the Godly men were disappearing the thing that was noticed was useless conversation! They spoke of temporal things, constantly, and made each other feel good. In his book “Disciples of a Godly man” R. Kent Hughes points out (after a lengthy study) that less than 10% of men have friends, real friends. So if 10 guys read this, one of you has a friend. Is that you? I mean take a look at David and Jonathon's friendship. It was one of love, commitment, mutuality, loyalty, and encouragement. When they got together they weren't talking trucks, football, hunting, or any other man-power subject, they were concerned for each other spiritual welfare. It was more like, “how are thing going, for real”? Or “Hey man, how are thing going with such-and-such”? They shared their struggles and lifted each other up with their souls! Do you have such a friendship? Does your time with the guys go beyond the surface level of why your having those conversations? I am not saying we need to get together, cry and have a sissy fit of our lives with the guys and “get in touch with our feminine side”, hug and leave. I don't like that at all! I am saying we need to get together and be men, real men, helping each other. Spurring each other on to good works! Keep each other focused on what really matters! Like David and Jonathon.
So maybe you want such a friendship but don't understand why we can't get one? Troy Meeder in his book Average Joe says it this way, “We don't have friends because we don't try to have friends, yup that simple!” Proverbs 18:24, “A man who would have friends must first show himself friendly”! Come on guys, it isn't that hard! We need to be those men, to stand in the gap! To make a difference. I am tired of “masculine men” who go through life without without making a difference in the lives of their peers. It isn't that hard! Lets man up and care about each other!
