Men Wanted
by Kenneth Frazier
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 4, December 1994
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit ye like men, be strong" (I Corinthians 16:13). Of this verse, Thayer says the meaning is: "to make a man of or make brave. To show oneself a man, be brave." W. E. Vine says it derives from a word meaning "to play the man."
In addition to distinguishing the male of the species, this word describes the type of male desired by God. What is needed ever so greatly are men who are mature, responsible, and courageous in conduct. Moral or spiritual cowards would not qualify as men according to I Corinthians 16:13.
There may be a greater need in today’s society and in the Lord’s church than mature, responsible, courageous men, but I am not aware of it. So many of society's ills would be corrected if men would just "play the man."
A sad day in Israel is seen in I Samuel 4. Israel was defeated by the Philistines. The solution to yet another defeat, they decided, was to bring the ark of God from Shiloh into the camp. God would then be with them, and they would be victorious over their enemies. When the ark came into the camp, the earth rang with their shout of joy.
The Philistines, upon hearing the great shout, were afraid. They remembered how God had delivered the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. To bolster their courage and spirit, the Philistines called upon their soldiers to "be strong, and quit yourselves like men, and fight." When battle was again joined with the Israelites, the Philistines defeated them and took captive the ark of God and slew the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas. A sad day indeed in Israel! The Philistines conducted themselves like men! Brave, responsible, courageous, and valiant men!
The home will not function as it should if men do not behave as men. God has delegated headship to the man (Ephesians 5:22-25). There is just no way the home can be what it ought to be if men will not accept the role of husband and father and "play the man." Read that passage carefully, men. It doesn’t say to be a dictator, tyrant, or brute. It does say to love your wives as Christ loved the church.
Neither will the church ever be what it should be if men will not accept responsibility for leadership. Elders, deacons, and preachers will develop out of men who are sincerely endeavoring to fulfill the responsibilities God has placed upon them. When the church in Jerusalem needed seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, they were there. When the church in our day needs men to serve in equally important works, will they be there?
