GOD’S ROLE FOR MEN

Jay Yeager

In a society plagued by a grumbling respect for the Word of God, it should surprise no one that God’s designed role for both men and women would suffer abuse as well. The intent of this article on the role of men, and the next on the role of women, is to address these two vital roles as they pertain to the marriage, the home and the church as God would have them to be.

1. God’s role for men in the marriage. There are many places which speak of the relationship that is to exist between the husband and wife: The physical relationship (I Corinthians 7:3-5; Hebrews 13:4)., the commitment that is to span the lifetime of one or both parties (Romans 7:1-3) and the unity that is forged by the marriage (Matthew 19:4-6). However, nowhere is the marriage relationship more profoundly illustrated than when it is likened to that relationship which exists between Christ and the church.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it (Ephesians 5:23-25).

Those verses teach two essential ingredients for the God given role of the husband. The first calls for maturity and wisdom, as he is to lead in the marriage relationship. The second, for deep and lasting devotion, for he must love his wife as Christ loves the church. “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourished and cherished it, even as the Lord the church” (Ephesians 5:28-29).

2. God’s role for men in the home. The man’s role as the provider of the home is certainly taught in the scriptures (I Timothy 5:8) and needs to be emphasized. However, his relationship far exceeds just providing for the physical and material needs of his family. A man may provide an abundance of material possessions, and still fail miserably as a husband and father if he neglects to prepare his family for eternity.

How wonderful it would be if the words spoken by the Lord concerning Abraham could be applied to every husband and father. “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken to him” (Genesis 18:19).

3. God’s role for the men in the church. The role men occupy in the church is the same as the role men occupy in the home; namely, that of leadership. Now, that none misunderstand, I make absolutely no reference to legislative matters. No one has a right to make laws for God (James 4:12).

However, God is not the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33). He wants all things done decently and in order (I Corinthians 14:40); therefore, God has not left us without organization. Each congregation is to have elders (Acts 14:23), that is, men who have met the qualification (I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-11; I Peter 5:1-3) and are appointed to take the oversight of the congregation (Acts 20:28). These men are to ensure that all matters are done in accordance with God’s will and are answerable for the souls in their care (Hebrews 13:17).