Principles
of Godly Manhood
By
Ryan M. Marks
Reputation
Popularity isn’t important, how God views
you is. Don’t place your value and worth in how others view you, place your
worth in how God sees you. Who you fear you serve, so don’t fear people and
seek their approval; serve and fear God.
Deut. 6:13,10:20 Josh 24:14 Prov. 9:10 Ps 111:10 Ecc. 12:12-14
Seek Wisdom
How much better is
it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen
than silver! Prov 16:16 (KJV)
Prov.1:1-9,8:11,9:10,16:16 Ps 111:10 Ecc. 9:16-18
Buy Truth, Wisdom, Instruction (learning), and Understanding
Today, there is a battle for truth,
foolishness abounds, people brush learning to the side, and understanding and
even common sense are seldom seen.
Prov. 23:23
Don’t Follow your Heart
Ecc. 11:7-10 Jer. 17:9 Prov 4:23
A Good Name
What do people think of when they hear your
name? Can you look people in the eye and give a firm handshake?
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great
riches, and loving favour
rather than silver and gold." Prov 22:1 (KJV)
Do you understand the implications of this verse?! A GOOD NAME is better
than silver and gold! It is better to have a godly reputation (like
Daniel or Joseph) than to have great riches. Our culture has
this backward. They view the supreme object of value to
be obtaining the easy life with riches (Luke 12:15-21)
Hate Evil
Prov 8:13 Matt. 21:12 Ex 18:21
Work:
Working Hard Prov
14:23, 21:5 Ecc 9:10 Col 3:23-24
Created for Work
Gen 2:15
Ex 18:20 1 Tim 5:8
Dominion Gen 1:26-30
Your Wife—your Helper, your Companion is a Gift from the Lord—so pray
for her
Gen 2:18,21-25 Prov 19:14, 31:10-31, Titus 2:3-5, 1 Tim 2:9-15
Be Honest, Trustworthy, Faithful, Dependable, Humble & Punctual
Prov
12:27
Be
honest: Therefore,
each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor
(Eph. 4:25).
Do
what is just and merciful: And
what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to
walk humbly with your God (Mic. 6:8).
Accept
responsibility for your actions and admit your wrongs: First take the plank out of
your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from
your brother’s eye (Matt. 7:5).
Keep
your word: Simply let
your “yes” be “yes,” and your “no” be “no” (Matt. 5:37).
Be
concerned about the interests of others: Each of you should look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others (Phil. 2:4).
Listen
carefully to what others say: He
who answers before listening, that is his folly and his shame (Prov.
18:13).
Overlook
minor offenses: A man’s
wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense (Prov.
19:11).
Confront
others constructively: Do
not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful
for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who
listen (Eph. 4:29).
Be
open to forgiveness and reconciliation: Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ
God forgave you (Eph. 4:32).
Change
harmful attitudes and behavior: He
who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces
them finds mercy (Prov. 28:13).
Make
restitution for any damage you have caused: If a man uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to
cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, the owner of the pit must pay for
the loss (Ex. 21:33-34).
Appoint
the Right Men: Moreover thou shalt provide out of all
the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and
place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of
fifties, and rulers of tens (Ex 18:21)
Oppose Evil by Standing Firm
Eph 6:10-17, Daniel 1,3,6 Gen 39
Oppose Evil with Good
Matt 5:38-48
Conversation.
When I was young, I was a gossip and frequently
shared laughs over dirty jokes with my friends. The Holy Spirit pricked my
conscience and reminded me that what I was doing is not Christlike. I know you
are under many pressures, guys. Hormones rage (trust me I’ve been your age not
so long ago) and the thrill of talking about so and so’s relationship and such
and such physical jokes produce such an emotional high that is addictive.
But, guys,
what about our future wives one day? Will you be able to look her in the
eye and tell her how you lived as a young man? And what about the Lord’s heart
that we break as we talk about the things done in darkness that He tells us not
to discuss (Eph 5:12)? It is a shame even to speak of those things
which are done of them in secret. Eph 5:12 (KJV).
I pray that you will all be raised up by
the Lord to be Faithful Men in this country and our perverse generation. I pray
that you will love your wives with a Christlike and passionate love that you
have for no other; but guys, talking about sex in the locker room simply
cheapens the intimacy you have with and the value you will place in the
companionship of your wife in the future. Wherefore come out from among
them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you 2 Cor 6:17 (KJV)
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto
according to thy word.
Psalms 119:9 (KJV)
God wants your
relationship with Him to be vibrant and full of life. Think of the intimacy
with God the prophets had, Jesus Christ had with the Father, the Early Church
had with the Holy Spirit, and Adam and Eve had with God. What you watch, listen
to, and say affects your heart in tremendous measure. I’m not saying it will be
easy. Medical science says that the high men get when looking at porn and
discussing sexual content is more addictive than heroine. But guys, there is
REAL LIFE. What feels good is actually not always good for you (Heb 11:25). God
has given you intense sexual desire because He created you that way. It is
right and proper for you to have that passion for your wife. But until
marriage, God expects you not only to abstain in your physical body, but your
spirit—because if your heart is corrupt, your whole body is in darkness (Matt
6:19-23). God will give you the strength to guard your minds if you depend on
Him!
1 Cor 10:12-14 Phil 4:6-7 Phil 4:8-9 Lev 10:3
Focusing on the Mark Ministries
2013 ©
Ryan M Marks
