Functional Masculinity (7 of 7: Summary)

In wrapping up the unit on functional masculinity, I wanted to talk in closing about the topics that we have covered in the process of this…

1) The Ephesians 5 Principle-The “die to the self” principle we as men must have and grow into during the dating process (not right when we get married) and must be prepared for when we decide to date. All comes down to treating women as Christ treated the church (Ephesians 5:25).

2) Sacrifice-Being effective leaders in our household in servanthood. Allowing ourselves to be conscientious about the needs of those in our household, and making impact by passing on God’s Image (Hebrews 1:3) and Likeness (Galatians 5:22-23)

3) The “Woe is Me” Principle-How not to be a functional man. Men who handle their business and do so begrudgingly, as well as men who spend all their time complaining and take no action. Taking charge of our thinking and not only making it obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-6) but also making sure it only uplifts those around us spiritually (Ephesians 4:25-32).

4) Boundaries-Making sure that we as men know our roles in the lives around us and do not move or even think outside of the roles God has designed us to have for those around us. That God has an Order for everything in our business (Colossians 3:1; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5 & 6/Colossians 3:20-4:2). We must continue to check ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:27-32) through systematic fellowship with God and reading the Word of God (which is designed to uplift and convict, and as it is written in 2 Timothy 3:15-17, the gold Standard for our business).

5) Legacy-How will we as men impact the communities around us? About how we must building one another up through fellowship (Proverbs 27:17, Matthew 18:20), and make sure that we follow Christ’s Great Commisssion (Matthew 28:18-20) along with God’s first Commission (Genesis 1:28), to go out and make disciplines in order to propagate the world with God’s Image and Likeness. After all, He is the best thing for us.

But what does all of this mean?

The charge to men: We have to be kind but harsh at times to those around us. You ever heard about “tough love”? Well heck God is the epitome of tough love. He loves us all, and prefers for even the wicked not to perish, but to rather to tighten up and dump their wickedness (Ezekiel 18:21-27), but yet some are “destined” for damnation (not all who say “Lord, Lord” will enter in the Kingdom of Heaven and etc.). We often have to be fathers and father figures to those we have not sired, relatives, friend’s kids, stepkids (I hate this term by the way), and in extreme cases, future wives (yes there is an element of discipleship and security building that goes into romance). We have to do these things and PUT OURSELVES last. We have to model Christ, and through this, we have to have His Authority, His Love and Nurturing, but most of all, His Servanthood.

The goal: Ultimately to get that “well done” (Matthew 25:23). Why? Because we will have reflected the things that I mentioned in this series as well as the totality of functional masculinity, following all these godly precepts in propagating godly models wherever we go in our lives. “This is my Son of whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) That’s where we ought to be shooting, men.

Hope you all had as much fun with this as I did.