Sunday 06:09:13

Back to the garden When it comes to practically every question about God’s intentions for men and women, the answer is almost always the same: go back to the garden. Jesus was asked about marriage (Matt. 19:4–6), He answered from Genesis 2. Paul was discussing the role of women in relation to men (1 Tim. 2:11–14), he found his answers in Genesis 2. The New Testament sees issues of gender and male-female relationships answered in the opening chapters of the Bible: the basic teaching on creation in Genesis 1 and the record of God’s specific dealing with the first man and woman in Genesis 2. It is here that we should search for the Bible’s most basic teaching on masculinity and femininity. Protect and Serve In his book, the "Masculine Mandate," Richard Phillips points to Genesis 2:15 where we read, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” He points to this passage as God's calling on men. He refers to this as the masculine mandate. The Hebrew word translated, “work,” is avad, also translated “serve,” “labor,” and “cultivate.” Men are called to work to cultivate something worthwhile for the glory of God and for the well-being of their fellow men, while providing for their families. Men are to be workers and builders at their work, in their homes and churches. Notice that work was not the result of the curse. Adam was to work in the garden before the curse. The curse brought pain and suffering to work, but man was always to work. The second part of the masculine mandate is found in the word, “keep.” The Hebrew word, shamar, is also translated, “watch over,” “guard,” “protect.” “A man is not only to wield the plow but also bear the sword. " Being God’s deputy lord in the garden, Adam was not only to make it fruitful but also to keep it safe,” To be a man is to stand up and be counted when there is danger or other evil to be faced. Nehemiah 4:16-18 is a perfect picture of the role of a man. Working and building, protecting and guarding. In our families, our presence is to make our wives and children feel safe and secure. At church we stand for truth and righteousness. In society we stand up against evil and defend our families and nation from danger. But it's easy for us to get forget which we are to wield and when. God's calling for men is to work and keep - or protect and serve This can be anything that accomplishes good. A man can make eyeglasses, do scientific research, or manage a store; the examples are almost endless. Our mandate to work means we should be devoting ourselves to building good things and accomplishing worthwhile results. There is nothing wrong with a man working simply to earn a wage, but Christians rightly want their labors to yield more than money for themselves and their families. Christian men should also desire to cultivate something worthwhile for the glory of God and the well-being of their fellow men. Leadership deficit America is facing a leadership crisis. Real, honorable, self-sacrificing leadership is difficult to find, especially in Washington. Our families, our community, our nation and our world are relying on the church to produce selfless, self-sacrificing, godly, honorable men to work and to keep. Men, will you encourage each other to be honorable men? Will you engage the next generation of men to grow in godliness and courage?