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 littleI Cor 3:1-3; Prov 19:11Peacemakers at all times
Bitterness and vengefulI Cor 14:20; Jas 3:17Forgiving and merciful
Ignorant of doctrineHeb 5:12-14; Pro 22:17-21Able to teach others
Fearful of circumstancesJudges 8:20-21; Prov 28:1Bold and courageous
Weak memory and forgetsProv 4:4-6; 7:1-3; I Cor 15:2Retains and remembers
Unstable and changingJohn 8:31; James 1:25Stable and perseveres
Unfocused and variableHeb 3:6; 4:14; 10:23Single minded and constant
FollowerGen 18:19; Josh 24:15Leader
Listens to get-rich-quick ideasPr 12:11; 13:11; 14:23; 28:19Words faithfully at his job
Clueless and confusedI Cor 6:1-5; Prov 16:20Wise and takes charge
Little and weak faithMatt 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8Trusting in God at all times
Toys – jobs, money, sportsPhil 3:18-19; Gen 15:1Spiritual riches are the prize
Ruled by feelings and spiritProv 16:32; 25:28Rules spirit and its feelings
Says what comes to mindJas 1:19; Prov 15:2,28Rules tongue to speak rightly
Envious like King SaulI Sam 18:6-11; I Sam 26:1-20Magnanimous like David
Selfish and self-centeredI Cor 3:1-4; Matt 20:26-27Serving and giving to others
Lets life happen to himPs 101:3-8; II Chron 19:3Takes life by the horns to win
Stays in comfort zone/habitsI Sam 17:29; Acts 2:14Steps out to do what is right
Vague reputation of godlinessI Sam 18:30; I Tim 3:7Clear and strong reputation
Nitpicker of others’ faultsProv 19:11; Is 29:20-21Gloriously overlooks faults
Chafes and resists authorityJude 1:8-10; II Pet 1:10-12Honors and obeys authority
Hasty and impulsive in actionsProv 19:2; II Tim 3:4Cautious and slow in actions
Chief concern about gettingPhil 2:3-4; Rom 15:1-2Chief concern about giving
Foolish and jesting in mannersEph 5:3-5; Titus 2:6Sober and grave in manners
Undisciplined and extremeI Cor 9:24-27; Phil 4:5Temperate and moderate
Vulnerable to new ideasEph 4:14; Titus 1:9; Heb 13:9Holds fast to truth learned
Much better at talkingJas 1:19; Prov 17:27-28Much better at listening
Generates children like a dogPs 34:11; Prov 4:3-4; Eph 6:4Trains his children to fear God
Moody like a spoiled childProv 18:14; I Thess 5:16Consistent like a mature man
Discouraged by adversityProv 24:10; II Cor 4:8-9Unmoved by adversity
Needs handholdingI Thess 5:14; Job 4:1-5Holds the hands of others
Short-term perspectiveHeb 11:8-16; Pr 23:17-18Long-term perspective
Physically orientedPs 147:10-11; Pr 20:29Spiritual character oriented
Values lust over loveII Sam 13:1; Pr 7:18; I Pet 3:7Values love over lust
Spends all of his moneyProv 13:22; 21:17,20Saves some of his money
Sees no danger in friendsProv 13:20; I Kings 11:3-4Knows the danger of friends
Lazy and low ambitionProv 6:6-11; 23:19-21Diligent and high ambition
Sits in church like zombieJohn 2:17; I Chron 29:2Makes the church glorious
Childishly talks about himselfProv 11:30; Daniel 12:3Pursues others for their growth
Waste time for funEph 5:16; Jas 4:14; Ps 90:12Redeem 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!