Today’s Reading, 1 Chronicles 26-29 & Psalms 127
Focal Scripture: Psalms 127:3-4 “Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, offspring, a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth.”
Having a son is a great honor. It is also not for the faint of heart. Raising young men has never been easy, but I would argue it is even more difficult in our current culture. Why? One example is that people are actually debating what male and female are in our society. Another example is that manhood has become toxic if you try to lead and take initiative in our society. You will hear statements about how the patriarchy is putting women down and that women can do everything that men can do, no exceptions. However, even with these negatives, having a son is a blessing.
In today’s reading, we see the psalmist declare that sons are a heritage from the Lord. This means that they matter and carry on the line of a family’s name and faith. Young men are also like arrows in the hands of a warrior. They are powerful and can be used to provide, protect, and bring peace. Young men have a place in society, and it matters more now than ever.
In our current culture, we are seeing this play out in the SBC. There is a fight and debate on what roles men and women can play in the life of a church. Some believe that the pastorate is only for men. Others believe that women can have any role in the church. In a few weeks, this debate will come to a head. It will more than likely cause a divide and a split in the SBC. Why? Because declaring that men and women are distinctly different and created for different purposes causes division.
Young men are valuable, and I am witnessing a dismantling of biblical manhood and biblical roles. I am not saying that women are inferior and should be treated as inferior. Quite the opposite, I believe, when women and men are treated within their gender roles, it brings peace, balance, and respect. As a father of a young man, it is my job to make sure he treats all women with respect. He has to be taught to honor women and respect them even when they don’t deserve it or treat him the same.
My son also expected to learn how to lead and take on all of the responsibilities and pain that being a man entails. This often means being misunderstood and blamed for the problems in the world. I have to teach him how he is expected to keep his emotions in check and have no response when he is treated unfairly. I also must teach him how to love biblically, even when it doesn’t make any sense.
Biblical manhood matters, and it is only passed down when fathers treat young men as powerful allies in the battle against cultural Christianity. Raise godly young men because our churches and our society need this to happen for the world to be tilted in the right direction.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Psalms 111-118
