If you were to ask your young son or a special boy in your life what he thinks it means to become a man, can you predict how he might answer?  Examine the two categories below and imagine whether you would hear answers from one category more than the other.

World’s Definition

• To have total freedom (which is really license not freedom).
• To be able to do what you want, when you want.
• To have a room in your house called a “man-cave.”
• To not be in school.
• To be able to buy what you want, when you want it.
• To be able to buy nice cars and the latest gadgets.
• To be old enough to legally buy and drink alcohol.
• To easily get dates or have a live-in girlfriend.
• To deserve time off from work and have free time with “the guys.”
• To be well-established on social media.

Scripture’s Definition

• To commit to walk in the ways of the Lord. (1 Kings 2:3)
• To leave a legacy of having faithfulness to God. (1 Kings 2:4)
• To be strong and courageous, not afraid or discouraged. (1 Chron. 28:20)
• To run from all sexual temptation outside of the marriage bed. (Gen. 39:12; Heb. 13:4)
• To put others first, starting with family. (Num. 32:17; Phil. 2:3,4)
• To give to and promote freedom for the poor and oppressed. (Is. 61:1)
• To fellowship for the reason of accountability and building up of other men. (Jn. 3:22; 13:35; 15:8; 20:19)
• To lead others to the Father and to the Son. (Jn. 6:32, 40; 1 Cor. 8:6)
• To live the kind of bold, adventurous, sacrificing, masculine life that can only be explained as one who is being led by the Spirit. (Acts 4:31-35;16:25)

It’s never too late for someone to begin encouraging and consistently modeling Biblical Manhood for the boys in your life. To do so is urgent because the world’s modern world’s definition is very well-promoted to the young generation. Start with prayer, and then wait for the Lord to show you how and who will play this needed role for the boys in your life.