Growing Up
Growing Up
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. (1 Cor. 13:11)
Childish Things
Time magazine put its journalistic finger on a growing problem in the culture. Many young people are putting off adulthood. It’s an especially acute problem among young men. Why? Perhaps it’s because we’ve held up irresponsibility as a worthy lifestyle, and maturity as something to avoid at all costs.
While our culture treats hard work, responsibility, and maturity as relics of the ancient past, these are virtues strongly encouraged in the Scriptures. Paul encouraged the people of Corinth to “put aside childish things” and grow up! David’s final words to his son Solomon were, “Be strong and be courageous” (1 Kings 2:2), which the King James Version renders, “Shew thyself a man.”
Godly Masculinity
God has called every man to live out his purpose by serving, leading, and sacrificing. This requires a lot more than repeating well-worn spiritual clichés about being a godly man or showing up on Sunday trying to look the part. It’s about intentionally pursuing Christ and having the courage to lead others toward spiritual maturity. And it’s not easy—we shouldn’t expect it to be—but it’s worth it.
God is calling Christian men to abandon the endless pursuit of pleasure and fulfill a more meaningful, satisfying, God-glorifying calling. Are you up to the challenge? It’s not something you can do in your own strength, but it is something you can do.
Bottom Line
Maturity and responsibility are worthy virtues of a man of God. Strive for these.