Godly Manhood

The Bible has a great deal to say about what a godly man is like. Here are some of the characteristics he possesses:

He is a cultivator

• Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
• Genesis 3:17-19 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

God put man in the garden to cultivate the land. As such, God has given man a nature to cultivate, create and build. Men are to cultivate their jobs, marriages, children, minds, churches, finances, homes, other believers, etc. Without God, men will direct their cultivation skills to the wrong things, like sin and rebellion (example: the tower of Babel in Genesis 5).

He is a provider

• 1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

The Bible is clear that it is the man’s responsibility to provide for his family. Many men offload this responsibility onto others: their wife, their church, the government. However, it is his duty and calling to meet the needs of his household.

He is a protector

• 1 John 2:14 …I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Men have been given strength by God to protect and defend the vulnerable, needy, and helpless. They are to defend their wives (unlike Adam in the garden) and their children. The Word of God should abide in them so they can refute false teachings and the schemes of the evil one.

He is responsible

• Galatians 6:5 For each will have to bear his own load.

A godly man is one who rises up to the challenge of his responsibilities. The difference between a man and a boy is not age or physical stature: it is the way they handle responsibility.

He is an honest worker

• 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

Godly manhood includes toil and labor. The man is called by God to make an honest living by working a job and doing it well. The godly man is not idle.

He is a leader

• 1 Timothy 3:1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

Men are called to lead their home and their church. They are also to lead themselves and not follow the ways of the world.

He is a man of faith and character

• 1 Timothy 3:2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach…

A godly man is one who follows God, repents of sin, reads his Bible, prays with his family, tells others about Jesus, and serves in his church. As a good Christian he has a solid reputation, is faithful to his wife, wise, loving, and self-disciplined.

He is counter-cultural

• 1 Timothy 3:3 …not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

The world develops men who get drunk, are violent, angry, and lovers of money. The man of God is not like this.

He is worthy of respect

• 1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Godly men earn respect. They should have others looking up to them and desiring to be like them. (Note: women should only date a man they can respect).

He is a family man

• 1 Timothy 3:4-5 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

Should a man be married and have children, he should be leading and managing his household well. He is attentive to his wife, loving her and meeting her needs. He is raising and disciplining his children. His house is in order and his family is blossoming.