I feel that more than ever before God is calling MEN to "Step Up Not Out". Today's society has made it so that it is easier for a man to walk away from his marriage, his family and his responsibilities than it is to stand up, fight for and do the work required to succeed. If I had taken this approach 20 years ago I wouldn't have the marriage I have today and definitely wouldn't have the 5 blessings I enjoy spending time with daily. I believe God is calling each of us to live a life that is filled with commitment, no I didn't say we needed to be committed, although most days you might feel more at home in the psych ward, unfortunately that is just LIFE. I am saying this to all of us, it is well past the appointed time. We all need more than ever to be:
1. Committed to our spouse - God gave her to you as a helper, so let her help you without abusing her. This abuse isn't always physical, most often it is verbal or your absence in her life. The last I checked it want kill a man to cook a meal, play taxi driver for the kids or help with the chores. After all it takes two to make a family, so what makes a man think it only takes one to keep the home in order. Let’s all join TEAM FAMILY in 2010.
2. Committed to our children - They too are a blessing from the Lord not a burden. Spend time daily with them and you won't believe the difference it will make in their attitude. Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
3. Committed to our job - in this time we are in any job you have is a blessing. It might not be the best paying job you've ever had or the most rewarding, but we are still being paid to do that job so give it your best until God blesses you with a better one. Matthew 25:14-30 The parable of the Talents.
4. Committed to balance - What I mean here is, you need to know when to say NO. There's no place for a YES man, this only leads to destruction. I'll explain, Let's just say for instance that there is an unlimited amount of overtime at your job and you work every bit of it, although the money helps with the here and now, who do you think is taking care of the non-monetary needs of your wife and kids. When they don't respond to you any more, then who is really to blame? I will never tell anyone not to work overtime, but I will be the first to say there has to be Balance.
5. Committed to our church - Here's a tough one and speaks directly to me. You might even be able to skip this one because of how much it's speaking to me. I went from teaching multiple classes which at times seemed like I was travelling 150 mph to moving to a new area where no church seems to be the right church. Needless to say I now feel as though I'm traveling in reverse. There has to be a happy medium and we just have to find it. God has called us to gather with like minded people and we can't do that without corporate worship.
6. Committed to our community - No matter what direction you look you can see something or someone that needs help. Don't be afraid to pass along the blessings that God has poured out on you. Luke 10:25-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan
7. Committed to personal bible study - At some point we all have to move past sitting under someone else's teaching and study it for ourselves. Who knows God might just use you to be the next teacher, after all less qualified men have been used in the past and they all went down in history. Psalm 119:12-16; 1 Chronicles 16:11
Jesus showed us how to be committed throughout His ministry right up to His death on the cross, where His death paid the price for our sins. The sins of the undeserving. With the start of this New Year, how about we all try to live a more committed life by Stepping Up Not Out.
