A Real Man

2. A real man works for a real reason

We talked about how expressing love is hard for a lot of men. But this way of showing love does seem to come naturally to most men. When a man goes to work day after day after day … and when he uses that pay check to buy housing and food and clothes for his family … that IS a powerful expression of love.

Sometimes men who have trouble expressing their love verbally. It’s easier for them to show their love with their actions … by working hard to take care of their family.

It’s easy to take that kind of love for granted. This Father’s Day might be the right time to actually THANK your dad for all his years of working so that you could have what you needed.

Notice that Paul said “we worked hard, while we preached the gospel of God to you.” A real man won’t let work become his whole life. He’ll provide more than money for his family. A real man gives his time and attention as well.

I remember back when I was about 14 years old, my mom had a talk with my dad. She said something about how my younger brother, Karl, and I were getting older === and if my Dad didn’t take some time to do things with us, it would soon be too late. (Isn’t it funny how the Mom is the one who has to point out the obvious?)

But that’s all it took for my Dad. He knew she was right about it. So he bought a rifle and a tent and other camping equipment and started taking Karl and I out hunting in the Arizona desert near our home in Scottsdale. I have a lot of good memories about those hunting trips.

But the funny thing is … as I look back on it … I don’t think my dad even liked hunting and fishing. He knew I was interested because I had asked for a rifle. But after Karl and I left home, I don’t think he ever went hunting or fishing again.

The point is, he did it for us. He found something we could enjoy together and he took the time and expense to make it happen. My Dad worked for our benefit. And he also planned his recreation with our needs in mind. That’s why to me, my dad stands out as a “real man.”

Here’s more that Paul said to the Christians in Thessalonica, “You are witnesses, & so is God, of how holy, righteous & blameless we were among you who believed. I Thessalonians 2:10 These men worked hard as tent-makers, and they preached the Gospel with all their might. But all that effort would have gone to waste if their LIVES had not backed up what they preached.

3. A real man lives a real life

It’s the same way in your home … and in mine. Believe me, your kids ARE witnesses of how you live your life at home! But here’s the good news: children don’t need perfect parents. (If they did, there’d be no hope for any of us!) What every child DOES need is a parent who lives a life of REAL faith.

You see, anyone who is serious about his or her commitment to Jesus Christ, WILL grow stronger and better every year. And your family will be witnesses of your transformation into the image of Christ.

When Children look at their dad, they don’t need to see a super-man. But they do need to see a REAL man … A man whose heart has been touched and changed by His God. A man who makes mistakes but has the courage to admit those mistakes and to try to make things right.