Our Men’s Ministry meets monthly for breakfast, and we have often taken our cue from R. Kent Hughes’ book Disciplines of A Godly Man. Understanding what practices the Gospel uses to shape us as godly men is key to a healthy marriage, a holy family, a thriving church, and a productive culture.

Yesterday, we were challenged that biblical manhood means taking responsibility, and initiating what needs to happen to do what is right. Look at the following categories and biblical texts that talk about where men have God-given responsibility to initiate.

Men take responsibility in…

         Responsibility in worship

Exodus 20:3
“You shall have no other gods before Me.”

Joshua 24:14–15
[14] “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. [15] And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Who do you worship? Men help us say, as for me and my house, the Triune God is whom we worship

         Responsibility for how we live

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

I Corinthians 16:13–14
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

Godly masculinity cares about our behavior, our motivations, and desires. Men take responsibility for how they live.

          Responsibility to lead spiritually

Genesis 3:8–9
And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

Psalm 78:4
We will not hide them from their children,

                   but tell to the coming generation

          the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,

                   and the wonders that he has done.

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 5:23, 25–27
For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior… Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

I Peter 3:7
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

When Adam and Eve together ate, together sinned, and together hid… God came first to Adam. Men take responsibility – in marriage with their wives, in parenting with their children, and for their family. Men are not alone responsible – godly wives have many and various responsibilities, and wise husbands will delegate to, lean on, and listen to wise wives. But at the end of the day men, God knocks on the door and asks for the head of the household to be responsible!

          Responsibility to provide

I Timothy 5:8
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

I Thessalonians 4:10–12
But we urge you, brothers, to love one another more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

In a world that doesn’t want to take responsibility, that relies on government handouts, and expects from others what we will not do for ourselves, biblical men are surprising: they take responsibility and initiate provision! As our Heavenly Father is the great Provider, we respond as His image bearers and provide as we have opportunity.

          Responsibility in the Church

Acts 14:22–23
[22] strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. [23] And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Titus 1:5–9
[5] This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—[6] if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. [7] For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, [8] but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. [9] He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Men are at the head of the church, not to domineer, but to serve as elders, deacons, and pastors. They take responsibility for doctrine, worship, godly living, evangelism & missions, and discipleship. Godly men who meet the requirements of I Tim 3 and Titus 1 need to step up and lead in Christ’s Church.

John Piper gives a stirring challenge to men to initiate and take responsibility below:

So men, how are we doing with taking initiative? Where is the Spirit of the Lord calling you to take responsibility?

For some of us, we need encouragement from times like Men’s Ministry Breakfast or Bible studies. Others will need accountability partners. All of us need to be refreshed constantly by the Word and prayer. Some will need to repent, for areas where we have abdicated, or been incompetent. And we give thanks for godly pastors, Consistory members, fathers, and husbands who have – by grace – been examples to us in the past.

All of us need the Gospel. The Good News is not that if you take more responsibility, everything will be fine. Instead, remember that Christ has taken responsibility for you. He has come to bear our sins, and He will keep us until the day of salvation.

I Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

John 10:27–30
[27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. [30] I and the Father are one.”

Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Praise be to Christ, who gives us His victory, and takes responsibility for us, that by His grace godly men will lead to initiate and take responsibility!