Boys to Men
The purpose of the word of God, the church of Christ, and the fellowship of saints is growth in grace and the knowledge of Christ until we are perfect men of God. It is a fact that many Christian men live and die as boys in the sight of God and good men. Age has nothing to do with it. Godliness, wisdom, and perseverance have everything to do with it. Are you growing? Are you a man in the sight of God?
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (I Cor 16:13).
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (I Cor 13:11).
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Eph 4:13-15).
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (II Pet 3:18).
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels” (Prov 1:5).
“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Prov 9:9).
“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end” (Pr 19:20).
“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb 5:12-14).
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” (II Pet 1:5-7).
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Phil 1:9-11).
“Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more” (I Thess 4:1).
“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men” (I Cor 14:20).
“He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down” (Luke 13:6-9).
“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (I Tim 4:7-8).
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (I Pet 2:1-3).
What are you at home, at work, and in the church?
| Boys | Men | |
|---|---|---|
| Quarrel and argue over little | I Cor 3:1-3; Prov 19:11 | Peacemakers at all times |
| Bitterness and vengeful | I Cor 14:20; Jas 3:17 | Forgiving and merciful |
| Ignorant of doctrine | Heb 5:12-14; Pro 22:17-21 | Able to teach others |
| Fearful of circumstances | Judges 8:20-21; Prov 28:1 | Bold and courageous |
| Weak memory and forgets | Prov 4:4-6; 7:1-3; I Cor 15:2 | Retains and remembers |
| Unstable and changing | John 8:31; James 1:25 | Stable and perseveres |
| Unfocused and variable | Heb 3:6; 4:14; 10:23 | Single minded and constant |
| Follower | Gen 18:19; Josh 24:15 | Leader |
| Listens to get-rich-quick ideas | Pr 12:11; 13:11; 14:23; 28:19 | Words faithfully at his job |
| Clueless and confused | I Cor 6:1-5; Prov 16:20 | Wise and takes charge |
| Little and weak faith | Matt 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8 | Trusting in God at all times |
| Toys – jobs, money, sports | Phil 3:18-19; Gen 15:1 | Spiritual riches are the prize |
| Ruled by feelings and spirit | Prov 16:32; 25:28 | Rules spirit and its feelings |
| Says what comes to mind | Jas 1:19; Prov 15:2,28 | Rules tongue to speak rightly |
| Envious like King Saul | I Sam 18:6-11; I Sam 26:1-20 | Magnanimous like David |
| Selfish and self-centered | I Cor 3:1-4; Matt 20:26-27 | Serving and giving to others |
| Lets life happen to him | Ps 101:3-8; II Chron 19:3 | Takes life by the horns to win |
| Stays in comfort zone/habits | I Sam 17:29; Acts 2:14 | Steps out to do what is right |
| Vague reputation of godliness | I Sam 18:30; I Tim 3:7 | Clear and strong reputation |
| Nitpicker of others’ faults | Prov 19:11; Is 29:20-21 | Gloriously overlooks faults |
| Chafes and resists authority | Jude 1:8-10; II Pet 1:10-12 | Honors and obeys authority |
| Hasty and impulsive in actions | Prov 19:2; II Tim 3:4 | Cautious and slow in actions |
| Chief concern about getting | Phil 2:3-4; Rom 15:1-2 | Chief concern about giving |
| Foolish and jesting in manners | Eph 5:3-5; Titus 2:6 | Sober and grave in manners |
| Undisciplined and extreme | I Cor 9:24-27; Phil 4:5 | Temperate and moderate |
| Vulnerable to new ideas | Eph 4:14; Titus 1:9; Heb 13:9 | Holds fast to truth learned |
| Much better at talking | Jas 1:19; Prov 17:27-28 | Much better at listening |
| Generates children like a dog | Ps 34:11; Prov 4:3-4; Eph 6:4 | Trains his children to fear God |
| Moody like a spoiled child | Prov 18:14; I Thess 5:16 | Consistent like a mature man |
| Discouraged by adversity | Prov 24:10; II Cor 4:8-9 | Unmoved by adversity |
| Needs handholding | I Thess 5:14; Job 4:1-5 | Holds the hands of others |
| Short-term perspective | Heb 11:8-16; Pr 23:17-18 | Long-term perspective |
| Physically oriented | Ps 147:10-11; Pr 20:29 | Spiritual character oriented |
| Values lust over love | II Sam 13:1; Pr 7:18; I Pet 3:7 | Values love over lust |
| Spends all of his money | Prov 13:22; 21:17,20 | Saves some of his money |
| Sees no danger in friends | Prov 13:20; I Kings 11:3-4 | Knows the danger of friends |
| Lazy and low ambition | Prov 6:6-11; 23:19-21 | Diligent and high ambition |
| Sits in church like zombie | John 2:17; I Chron 29:2 | Makes the church glorious |
| Childishly talks about himself | Prov 11:30; Daniel 12:3 | Pursues others for their growth |
| Waste time for fun | Eph 5:16; Jas 4:14; Ps 90:12 | Redeem time for use |
There are several keys for a man to grow to maturity and perfection.
1. You must feed on the word of God with emphasis on looking in the perfect law of liberty, seeing your deficiencies, and correcting them by obedience to it (I Pet 2:1-3; Jas 1:21-25).
2. Beg God to reveal to you your faults and offences in thought, word, or deed, and lead you in the way of righteousness by the power of His Spirit (Job 34:31-32; Ps 26:1-5; 139:23-24).
3. Participate fully in the church by interacting with all the brothers and sisters in a godly fashion for the strength in numbers and the correction of others (Heb 3:12-13; 10:23-25).
4. Fellowship with the saints on a frequent basis outside assemblies to reach higher toward spiritual maturity and righteous perfection (I Sam 23:16; Prov 27:17; Phil 3:17; I Thes 5:14).
5. Avoid and despise the ways of this world in personal companionship or their forms of entertainment, where they can corrupt your manners (Ps 1:1-3; Prov 1:10; I Cor 15:33).
6. Growth is the result of your effort, not the result of what the church, pastor, or others do for you. You cannot blame anyone else for your spiritual immaturity. Grow up! Begin today!