Counsels on Self-Identity

Counsel #15 — A Real Man

Picture: Counsel #15 — A Real Man CI 144.1

What does it mean to “act like a man”? The world might say it’s about muscle, money, or how many hearts you can break. But Scripture gives us a completely different picture, one grounded in faith, obedience, and love. CI 144.2

In 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul exhorts, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong,” but he doesn’t stop there. The very next verse reshapes the whole idea: “Let all that you do be done in love.” So, biblical manhood is all about integrity. It’s the strength to serve, the courage to be kind, and the conviction to stand for what’s right, even when it costs you. David echoed this when charging Solomon: “Prove yourself a man,” he said in 1 Kings 2:2. Keep in mind that the test wasn’t about conquest or control. It was about obedience. Acting like a man, biblically speaking, means standing firm in your relationship with God, walking in humility, leading in love, resisting temptation, and using your influence to bring others to God.^[158] CI 144.3

“Keep the charge of the Lord your God…that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.” 1 Kings 2:3 NIV CI 144.4

“If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in us, our feelings, our thoughts, our purposes, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God…” Ellen White in Steps to Christ, p. 61 CI 144.5

Reflect: What messages about manhood have you absorbed from your life experiences? CI 144.6