Why were we created?
We exist to serve and glorify God. We live and serve at His good pleasure.
Before the foundation of the world, God determined His purpose. He planned all of creation to be a gift to His son – a redeemed humanity who would serve and glorify Him forever.
2 Timothy 1:9
He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Ephesians 1:4-6
For he chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in his presence. In love he predestined us for adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Colossians 1:15-16
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
What we were created to be
God made the earth so that we could live in it and rule it. That is our role. We were created to be subordinate rulers of the earth. We are to represent God to His creation. For this reason, we were created in His image.
Genesis 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, so they will rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock over all the earth itself every creature that crawls upon it.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
We are created in the image and likeness of God. This is usually taken to mean that were resemble Him in several respects, but not physically. In image, we have will, intellect, emotion and speech, so that we can exercise command. In likeness, we have both an intellectual and a moral nature. It is clear in the account that female is just as much in the image of God as male. This is an expansion, not an exception.
When humans rebelled against God’s rule, the image and likeness of God in us were fractured. We still have the will, intellect and emotion, but now they function imperfectly and are out of balance. Our intellectual and moral nature are likewise damaged. We are still intellectual, but since God is not at the center, our intellectual ability becomes unreliable. We are prone to lie to ourselves and distorted reasoning results. By a moral nature, I mean something like a moral compass. We have the capacity to make moral assessments just like we can make mathematical assessments. The compass, however, no longer points to God – it points right back at ourselves. Our moral assessments tend to result in what is good for us, rather than what is good. As we spend more time focusing on and practicing following God, His image and likeness within us slowly move back toward what they are supposed to be.
These attributes are absolutely necessary to function as an effective ruler. Because we are damaged, our dominion over the earth is marked by waste, mismanagement and destruction. When we rule each other, those governments are similarly tainted. It cannot have been God’s intent that those intended to rule creation in harmony manipulate each other, make war on each other and make slaves of each other.
Our relation to God and each other
God’s kingdom is hierarchical, which simply means that there are levels of authority and accountability. There is always someone responsible for what happens at every level. God is overall in charge – we were intended to rule the earth as His subordinates. We are to worship Him and obey Him.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Below Him, we were designed to fill specific roles. Men and women were created sequentially, with specific intent. Please note that the role a person occupies has nothing to do with that person’s worth, ability or value. It is just the role they were designed to fill. Think of it like your body. Your hand is very different than your foot. If you were to try to trade them out, neither your hand nor your foot would function very well, because they would not be filling the function for which they were designed. The whole body would suffer because the pieces would not be working together in the right way.
Men and women are designed very differently. We are designed to fill different roles and perform different tasks. We are happiest as people when we fill the roles we are designed to fill.
Genesis 2:16-24
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ (Ish-sha – female Ish) for she was taken out of man (Ish).” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Why did God create woman? To be a companion to man. In relation to man, woman’s nature is derivative – she draws her life from him. She is the helper rather than the initiator and yet equal to him. She perfectly supplies the man’s social and affectional needs, just as he supplies hers. They are interdependent.
So why the delay? Why not create them both at the same time? We don’t and can’t know, but we can guess. It is possible that Adam needed to be lonely in order to establish the kind of companionship God had in mind – as an equal for whom he was responsible rather than as a lesser being who was subject to him.
The Biblical Man
A big part of man’s relationship to God is accountability. Man is accountable for everything in his area of responsibility. This is reflected in the punishment for his rebellion. God gave Adam the command about the fruit – it was Adam’s responsibility to see that it was obeyed. Eve yielded to the temptation of the serpent, but Adam failed to see that God’s will was enforced and stop her. As a second offense, he ate the fruit too. This added layer of responsibility is reflected in the punishment. Eve’s punishment for disobedience was increased pain in childbirth and more complete submission to her husband. Adam’s punishment was the fall of all of creation.
Man is supposed to model God in every way he can. He is supposed to strive to display all of God’s attributes and earnestly seek to avoid sin. He is on display at all times, so must continually reflect God’s nature and character in his life.
2 Corinthians 5:20
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
A man is a steward.
Every man is caretaker of all of the things God has placed in his charge. He will be held accountable for how well he has fulfilled his task.
Matthew 25:14-30
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
God has little patience for lazy men. He blesses them so that they might glorify Him and be a blessing to those around them.
A man must be holy.
Being holy means being faithful to God. It means setting yourself apart for Him. It means rejecting the world’s outlook and values and using the ones God has ordained for us.
1 Peter 1:15
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age
Using God’s values means following the rules He set down for us even though the penalty for failing to follow them has been paid by Jesus. He made it very clear how we are to live. We will feel like we are giving up our lives to live this way. That is perfectly correct. We are giving up our lives for God, dying for Him that we might live.
Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
We might also feel that we are foregoing all of the pleasures and good things in life. This is wrong. The pleasures and things we are giving up are not good. Please see Chapter 5 – Good and evil. We are giving up pleasures that the One who designed us has told us are not good. We should not be childish, seeking to live selfishly and for our own pleasure.
1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
But being holy is more than about what you do. It means changing the way you think.
Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
His ways are the ones we are trying to follow. The word ‘repent’ means more than just turning around, or even stopping a particular sin. It means a change in priorities and ways of thinking as well as behavior. We are trying to change so that we don’t even want to sin. This is, of course, impossible for us. But if we honestly try, God will work in us to make those changes. It will take time and sustained effort. There will be successes and failures. Remember that we are not doing this alone and that God forgives us when we fail.
A man must be honest.
God does not lie. We must not lie either.
Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.
Leviticus 19:11
You must not lie or deceive one another.
We know that it is more than possible to lie to someone using the truth. Remember that God looks at the intent of the heart. If you are trying to leave someone with an understanding that is other than the truth as you know it, you are lying, no matter what words you use.
A man must be just.
God is just and requires us to be just. We represent Him. This involves being scrupulously careful to follow through on your word. It means being willing to be held accountable for failing to do so and also being willing to take action to make it right.
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Proverbs 16:8
Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
It means not letting others act unjustly when it is in our power to do something about it – even if the only thing we can do is object.
We have a responsibility to speak out. God is a God of justice, so we must be men of justice. Seek it by all means that are lawful. Committing crimes or injustices in the name of justice is not justice. It is vengeance, and that belongs to the Lord.
Ezekiel 3:18-21
When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself. “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”
Part of our job is to help keep each other from falling. Please see Specific sins and Temptation.
A man must take care of his wife and family.
1 Corinthians 7:33 (Paul is recommending against marriage, but in doing so, he defines the correct perspective a man should have).
But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided.
Husband and wife are BOTH to put each other first. There must be no tyranny in marriage. Nevertheless, as was clear at creation, the man is directly responsible to God for everything that God has entrusted him with, including his household. This also means he will be held responsible for mistreating or abusing his family. God has some harsh language for those who abuse their wives and children that does not bode well for them on Judgement Day.
Ephesians 5:21-33
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Marriage is clearly intended to be a partnership, but there must be a deciding vote in the event of a conflict. Wives are, then to submit to their husbands as to Christ, and for the same reason – obedience to God. Just like with civil authority, that obedience does not extend to anything contrary to God’s law.
A man must lead his family in the faith.
Every man is the head of his household. This means he is answerable for how they live, how they are raised and how they follow and honor God.
Hebrews 13:17
But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
The woman is accountable to her man and the man is accountable to Christ. This does not remove her accountability for her own actions, but the man is responsible for everything his family does. Supervising his household is a significant part of a man’s duty. Failing to supervise is no excuse; it is an additional offense.
It is important to reinforce that this chain of responsibility is not in any way related to any person’s value before God. These are job descriptions. It also does not mean that he gets to tell her what to do in all things or to demean her. His is the responsibility to make sure she is living a godly life.
Ephesians 5:22-23
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church.
Colossians 3:19
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Jesus loves the church to the point of sacrificing Himself for her. He treats her with tender care, making sure she is spotless before God, providing for her and helping her prosper. This is how a man should lead his household. This is the standard to which he will be held.
A man must raise his children in the faith.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
He is responsible for how they are raised. If, as adults, they turn their back on God and go their own way, that responsibility is theirs, not their parents’.
A man must be sexually pure.
A man must have sex with his wife and no one else. Sex helps build all areas of a relationship.
1 Corinthians 7:3-5
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
This includes pornography. Men are visually stimulated. Because of their fallen nature, they evaluate every woman they see in terms of sex. Looking at beautiful women in terms of sex releases endorphins into his system, making a man feel sexual, and feel good. This is designed to help a man interact properly with his wife. But this system is out of balance, like all the others. Unless a man learns to limit his exposure and control his thinking, he can easily become trapped in the sinkhole of pornography. The world calls this “natural” and a “victimless crime.” These are lies. It is not natural – it is the result of the fall. The victims are the man himself and his wife. Pornography distorts normal sexual function and degrades both himself and his relationship with his wife. Remember that a man represents God in the domain God has entrusted him with. We need to look and act like Jesus would look and act.
Matthew 5:28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
All sexual activity other than sex between a man and his wife is dangerous and is forbidden.
A man must repent.
The only way a man can survive in his role is to regularly confess his sins and repent. By regularly, I don’t mean weekly or monthly. I mean as soon as he realizes he has sinned.
1 John 1:9
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
As a son of God, I have the right and responsibility to come before God and confess to Him my failure. I must ask Him for forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. I must ask Him for the wisdom and strength to keep from sinning again. To do otherwise, to delay in asking forgiveness is to minimize sin. It tells God that my offense to Him isn’t important enough to stop what I’m doing and make it right between us. It shows my family that sin isn’t that important. It is.
I cannot be an effective leader if I minimize the impact of sin in my life. Sin is deadly poison that must be eliminated immediately. It stands between me and God and further strains our relationship.
A man must set a good example for others.
He must not just be good, he must be seen to be good. Perception is reality for the outsider. If a person claims to be Christian yet presents the appearance of living sinfully, he brings dishonor on God and will repel rather than attract sinners to Jesus. A man’s life must be beyond reproach. He has to actively avoid situations where there could be even the appearance of compromise.
1 Timothy 4:12-16
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
A man must be humble.
Humble does not mean weak. A man cannot be gentle unless he is capable of being strong. Humility means voluntarily submitting to God. It means acknowledging that my salvation is completely dependent on His grace.
Humility means serving others rather than myself. It means putting myself last. It means graciously treating everyone I meet with the love and respect that Jesus showed. It does not mean being a pushover. Jesus showed no tolerance for sin; He showed great tenderness for the sinner.
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Mark 10:45
Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
We must be humble before God.
Luke 18:10-14
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
There is nothing about me that merits salvation. My works are nothing. I am no better than any of the people that God will condemn at the final judgment. I have to recognize this and come to God as a beggar asking for a handout – respectfully, in shame and humility for my disgrace. God will lift me up because of the promise that He made and fulfilled through Jesus. I dare not make demands of God.
A man must be generous.
He must give freely of his time and resources to those who need it. He must love and support those around him, particularly the weak and the helpless.
Luke 10:29b-37
So he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
We are called to look after one another, even at the cost of our own security.
A man must stand up for what he believes to be right.
This will mean sacrifice. It will mean mockery. It will mean giving up job opportunities and promotions. In some places, it may mean violence or imprisonment. It may mean sacrificing relationships.
Matthew 10:32-38
Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law — a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
This doesn’t mean being arrogant or spiteful. It means holding to the truth and being able to express it clearly and calmly to those with whom you disagree. Be respectful to other people and they will hear what you have to say. Do not minimize or dilute God’s truth. People will hear it and follow it or not, as they choose. But if you make them angry through your attitude and approach, they have no chance to hear the truth for what it is. If they make themselves angry because you are telling them something they don’t want to hear, that’s their problem. You have to answer for your approach to God.
A man must be prepared to die for what he believes.
Romans 8:36
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
Philippians 1:21
To live is Christ, to die is gain.
We will die if that is what God calls us to, but it is far more likely that we will have to live in dishonor and discomfort for what we believe.
John 15:18-20
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.
We have to be humble while we do so. We must not abuse or upbraid those who persecute us. We definitely shouldn’t get self-righteous or vindictive.
A man must have the right attitude.
A man must not be abusive, insulting or hurtful in dealing with other people, especially those who have hurt him.
Colossians 3:8
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Galatians 5:14-15
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Don’t love people with hurtful intent. If I perform an act of love for someone with the intent of seeing him squirm and to humble him, I am not honoring God. I am not being merciful as God is merciful. I should be trying to show God’s love for him because God showed His love for me. I need to do it on the same terms.
Matthew 12:34
For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
If you find yourself with a tendency to speak disdainfully, harshly or hatefully to or about other people, you need to take a close look at yourself.
A man must help others follow Jesus.
As leaders, men are called to watch each other, judge each others’ actions, and call each other out if we start to stray. We are called to keep each other honest. Please see Chapter 11 – Specific sins.
A man must work.
Men were not put on the earth to idle away their time. They were put into a garden that needed tending.
Genesis 2:15
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
When people don’t work they become demoralized. They turn in on themselves and each other. They become gossipy and contentious.
2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.
When a man does his work, he must do it well.
Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
It is easy to slack off and cut corners, particularly in a job you dislike. Remember that you are working for God as well as representing Him. He put you where you are. You can certainly ask Him to go somewhere else, but in the meantime, do your work to the best of your ability.
Retirement.
Retirement is not a Biblical idea. The only reference to retirement in the Bible occurs in Numbers.
Numbers 8:24-26
The Lord said to Moses, “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall enter to perform the service in the work at the tent of meeting, but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work.
The Levites at the time were responsible for disassembling, moving and reassembling the Tabernacle, a sort of mobile temple the Israelites were using before the permanent temple was built. This involved quite a bit of manual labor. As you get older, it gets easier to get tired and start making mistakes. Mistakes with God’s holy temple were deadly – lethal to the one making them and a grave offense to God. So He probably put this regulation in place to minimize the chances for problems.
We cannot carry this forward to justify modern notions of retirement. There is nothing wrong with accumulating enough money to care for yourself in later life; nor is there anything wrong with ceasing to work your job. But you must continue to work. Volunteer at the church. Help the poor. Find some employment that glorifies God. We don’t glorify Him by sitting around all day watching television or fishing. This turns us in on ourselves. We need to continue to focus on God and what He wants. Seek His wisdom and you will find it.
Men of God
It is quite possible to play the part of a man of God and not be one. The Pharisees did that.
Matthew 23:27
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
We need to constantly watch ourselves as men of God to make sure we are truly living what we believe and believing what we live – we represent God. We will fail because we are sinful men, but we have to keep trying. We will be held accountable even though we have been saved.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
The Biblical Woman
Woman is fallen, just like man. The results of the fall reflect in her changed nature.
Genesis 3:16
To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
Her desire is a mixed concept. This word only occurs three times in the Old Testament. Here, in the Song of Songs and in Genesis 4. In the Song of Songs, the beloved says that ‘I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me.’ She will have a pleasant desire for him. The other place is in Genesis 4, where God says to Cain that ‘sin is crouching at the door; its desire is for you, and you must master it.’ The grammar is identical. She will desire to have and dominate her man. She must master that desire. It is the language of strife.
Part of her curse in the fall is that the harmony she desperately wants will be now a conflicted desiring and somewhat greater disharmony.
This also indicates the more complete dominion that man will now exercise over woman. Among the heathen, the punishment was made very bitter by the degradation to which woman was reduced (look at the Muslims); among the Jews the wife, though she never sank so low, was nevertheless liable to divorce at the husband’s will, and was in many respects treated as his inferior.
In the sin she had been the first actor, and Adam had yielded her too ready an obedience. The more complete equality was broken. From then on, she was to live in subjection to him; yet not unhappy, because her inferiority (in position, not personal value) was to be tempered by a natural longing for the married state and by love towards her husband.
In Christ the curse was lifted – the equality restored. The Christian woman is no more inferior to the Christian man than is the Gentile to the Jew, or the bondman to the free. She is still subject to him in accordance with God’s original plan, but without the curse (more later) and the strife, which remains for those still living under the curse. Jesus brings peace between those who follow Him and live according to His rule.
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Through Jesus, there is a return to equality and partnership. There are still roles to fill, but now they focus on the original design rather than the fall.
What is a woman’s role?
According to traditional Judaism, women were discouraged from pursuing higher education or religious pursuits, but this seems to be primarily because women who engage in such pursuits might neglect their primary duties as wives and mothers. Judaism had great respect for the importance of that role. Many people think that Jewish life revolved around the Synagogue. In truth, Jewish life revolved around the home, where the woman’s role is arguably more important than the man’s.
Most of the ceremonial separation of men and women in worship was not out of any denigration of the women, but to protect the men from their own weakness. There are two reasons for this: first, your mind is supposed to be on prayer, not on the pretty girl praying near you. Second, many pagan religious ceremonies at the time the Torah was given on Sinai involved sexual activity and orgies, and the separation prevents (or at least discourages) such things.
What is a woman’s role according to the Bible?
Far from oppressing women and keeping them down, the Bible empowers women.
She is to be a protected partner.
Malachi 2:13-16 (Malachi to the men of Israel)
Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.
God has some harsh language for those who abuse their wives and children that does not bode well for them on Judgement Day.
1 Corinthians 7:33-35 (Paul is recommending against marriage, but in doing so, he defines the correct perspective spouses should have).
An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:21-33
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
This has been badly misused throughout the ages. Note the first phrase – submit to each other. Husband and wife are BOTH to put each other first. There must be no tyranny in marriage. Nevertheless, as was clear at creation, the man is directly responsible to God for everything that God has entrusted him with, including his household. This also means he will be held responsible for mistreating or abusing his family. Marriage is clearly intended to be a partnership, but there must be a deciding vote in the event of a conflict. Wives are, then to submit to their husbands as to Christ, and for the same reason – obedience to God. Just like with civil authority, that obedience does not extend to anything contrary to God’s law. The Bible talks about being lavish with forgiveness – also be lavish with patience.
She is to be a sex partner.
Note that this is not a sex object. In sex, as in everything else, men and women are to be partners.
1 Corinthians 7:3-5
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Sex is a blessing and a union between two halves of the same whole. It must never be used as a tool to pressure or manipulate the other partner – keep it sacred.
She is to be mother.
This is a role that men cannot perform very well. Men lack the sympathy and specific kind of patience required for the task.
She is to be the instructor, both of her children and her husband.
Proverbs 22:6
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Proverbs 31:26
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She is to be a worker within (and outside of) the household.
Proverbs 31:27
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
In fact, most of Proverbs 31. It looks like the woman is doing an awful lot – in fact, most of the work. Consider, though, that this was written at a time when the men were doing manual labor all day. This actually refers to the ideal woman doing her part in the common effort to prosper the household. The Bible is not setting up a system where the husband gets to slack off. The rest of the book of Proverbs (as well as the rest of the Bible) constantly directs the man not to be lazy or dishonest, but rather to work diligently on the tasks God has set for him within the scope of his role.
What other roles do we see in Proverbs 31? Smart businesswoman, provider, planner, landowner. The Bible is one of the few ancient societies where a woman could own and inherit land and conduct business on her own account. Socially, she is her husband’s equal. His prosperity is strongly linked to hers – without her support, he will fail.
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
The heart of her husband trusts in her
and lacks nothing of value. (integrity and support)
She brings him good, not harm, (support)
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands. (works hard to improve her household)
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar. (smart businesswoman)
She gets up while it is still night; (diligent, not lazy)
she provides food for her family (provider)
and tasks for her female servants. (manager)
She considers a field and buys it; (landowner)
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. (manager – she doesn’t work it)
She girds herself with strength
And shows that her arms are strong. (not weak or a slacker)
She sees that her trading is profitable, (prudence and economy; smart businesswoman)
and her lamp does not go out at night. (diligence; never sleeps)
She stretches out her hand for the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers. (not afraid to work even though she has servants)
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy. (generous)
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; (plans ahead)
for all of them are clothed in scarlet. (winter clothes, not just more summer clothes)
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple. (dresses appropriately to her social status; neither underdressed nor overdressed)
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. (she supports her husband so he can help lead the community, keeps him from turning up looking all wrinkly and shabby)
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes. (worker)
She is clothed with strength and dignity; (Mistress of the Household)
she can laugh at the days to come. (calmly confident; plans ahead)
She speaks with wisdom, (considers carefully what she says & learns from experience)
and faithful instruction is on her tongue. (teaches from her wisdom)
She watches over the affairs of her household (manager)
and does not eat the bread of idleness. (does not sit watching television all day eating bonbons)
Her children arise and call her blessed; (her teaching bears fruit)
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.” (Husband’s correct response)
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; (don’t care about shallow appearance)
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Lives her faith)
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (She is to be honored by the whole community)
Where in this passage does it talk about barefoot and pregnant, chained to the stove?
A woman’s role in the church.
This is another area that has been misunderstood and abused.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
This is partly a local ruling and partly a general prescription. There are three things to bear in mind about this passage.
First, the church in Corinth was a disordered chaos of people babbling in tongues and talking across each other. They also had a problem with gossipy women talking about who was speaking in tongues, who was faking, etc. Much of the letter is Paul trying to bring order and return them to the intent, which is worshiping God.
Second, before his conversion, Paul was a very conservative Pharisee, trained by the most famous Pharisee of his generation, Gamaliel. As we noted earlier, the Synagogue was separated to eliminate male-female interaction problems, but women were not allowed to speak. Part of the husband’s role was to lead the household by answering questions and clarifying what was said in the Synagogue. Paul’s directive is partially a very strong reaction to the disorder, with some of his religious upbringing showing through. Also, at the time, women had little religious education, while for men it was mandatory, so there was a significant amount of education and explanation that was required as the early church changed to a more equal footing. Paul was trying to lessen the distraction. The equivalent rule for the present day would be: Pay attention to the service and stay quiet. Anyone who has a question about something during the service should wait until later to ask about it or discuss it, to avoid disrupting the service.
The other part of this is the fact that a minister (preacher, priest, prophet, etc.) represents God to the people. Adam was created to be the lord (custodian, really) of creation, answerable only to God. To put a woman in charge of the church upends the created order. Some women are better leaders and more spiritual than some men, and most are better at caring for the sick, but God set His order for a reason, and until we understand why, we should be extremely foolish to change it.
1 Corinthians 11:4-16
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
This is overwhelmingly about cultural norms. Paul is saying that people must be respectful and presentable in church. At that time, the only woman walking around with an uncovered head was either a non-Jew or a prostitute. In either case, Paul is saying that she needs to be respectable in church and not flaunt herself as immoral (disgraceful). It’s the same with the men. Paul is telling the men to clean up, get a haircut and dress in appropriate clothes for church. Sound familiar?
Also, regardless of how culture varies, you should be able to see and know a male, and see and know a female, and not be confused between the two. In this case, the hair issue seems to be the visible sign of people drifting from the order of things God set down at the beginning of time. This also should sound familiar.
Being a Biblical wife is not:
-Being a servant, except insofar as she submits herself to the others in her family and provides for them. She serves, but not as a servile domestic. She is not the maid, not the housekeeper, although she might do those things. She is DEFINITELY not a slave. She is Mistress of the House.
-Convenient target for taking out frustration. Enough said.
-Being less important to God than her husband. All people are equal at the foot of the cross.
The Bible shows how much women were to be honored and empowered, not kept barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. This is especially true in Proverbs 31. Nobody who actually reads the Bible can justify the oppression, suppression or subjugation of women.
Marriage
Marriage is an institution, not a sacrament. A sacrament must have been explicitly commanded by Jesus. Please see The sacraments. Marriage is assumed to have been instituted by God prior to the fall. Is a way to recognize the permanent relationship between a man and a woman. It was essentially the visible sign of the two people having become one.
Genesis 2:24
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Divorce.
Marriage is permanent. There is no Biblical provision for what we today call a no-fault divorce, or an uncontested divorce. The only Biblical reason for divorce is marital infidelity – if one of the partners has sex with somebody else.
Mark 10:2-12
Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
“What did Moses command you?” he replied.
They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
This was a hot debate at the time. The fact of divorce was taken as a logical consequence of the judgement God imposed after the fall. That Jewish men could divorce their wives was clearly spelled out in scripture. The question was how flexible the term, “some indecency” really was – whether there had to sexual immorality involved or whether they could flex that to include trivial reasons.
Jewish women could petition for divorce, but they had to show that the husband was not providing her with food, clothing, and marital relations. Her options at that point were very limited. This is also why Jewish maidservants (indentured servants) could not simply be freed like Jewish manservants. The man could fairly easily go get a job. The woman may be ‘freed’ to a life of poverty.
This is also why the Pharisees asked the question that way. Note that Jesus didn’t change the law – He just clarified it and took away the ability of some men to use it to abuse their women (Do what I say, or I will divorce you, and you will be permanently disgraced and have to live with your family – who may not take you back – or on the street). The potential for abuse is real and was, no doubt, often used. Jesus brought us back to reality and a more balanced view of marriage and divorce. Jesus here is addressing no-fault divorces and divorces made for casual or self-serving reasons.
1 Corinthians 7:10-14
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
Death of a spouse.
1 Corinthians 7:39
A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
Paul is asserting here the right of a widow to remarry. This was assumed in Judaism, in which system she was even required to remarry under certain circumstances, but not everybody in the city of Corinth was Jewish. Many came from other cultures with views on life and marriage were very different than those of the Jews.
After we die.
A lot of things are going to be different after we die. We don’t know what, and we don’t know how. Please see Death, Heaven and Hell.
Matthew 22:24-30
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”
Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
Which doesn’t tell us very much. People won’t marry or be given in marriage, so perhaps there will be no union between the two. There just isn’t enough information to provide any kind of an answer.
Authority within the household.
Marriage is a balanced institution. As Christians, we live in a hierarchical society. God is in charge, then the line of authority splits.
Within the home:
The husband is directly answerable to God for the conduct of the household with which God has entrusted him. This includes providing for them and seeing to the discipline, education and training of the children as well as seeing to the education and training of himself and his wife. He is to love, honor and cherish her until death separates them. The penalty for failing to do these things to God’s satisfaction is not explicitly stated, but is a transgression like any other, and he will have to stand and answer. Failure to adequately supervise is not an excuse.
As his lieutenant, the wife is responsible for doing many of the things for which the husband is answerable, but she is not answerable to God in the same way as her husband. This is similar to the responsibility of a first sergeant carrying out his duties on behalf of the company commander – the commander is answerable for everything that happens in his company even though he may not do much of the actual work.
Both parents have authority over the children in their own right.
Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
The household line of authority and responsibility runs:
- God
- Husband
- Wife
- Children
Outside the home:
Societally, the husband is directed by God to answer to the government.
Romans 13:1-2
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
He is also answerable to the government concerning the behavior of his household, as far as the laws cover that behavior. He will be required to answer to God for his family’s obedience to the government as well. Neither he nor his family are required to obey the government when it says to do anything contrary to the Bible.
The line of authority in society is:
- God
- The Government
- Husband
- Wife
- Children
The Couple
God set up the balance of positions between man and woman at creation. In many respects, it is like a formal dance – if both partners try to lead, it won’t work. When done correctly, it is an entrancing adventure for both – and a lot of fun, as well as hard work. Many people in society reject it, but these are the people who reject Christianity as a whole because “you aren’t the boss of me.” They will find out to their cost, that God is, in fact, the boss of them. God established from the start that everybody has someone to whom they are accountable, from peasant to king. Someone is always the boss. This isn’t a bad thing. For one thing, a council of two can deadlock unless someone has a deciding vote. This is something to be used sparingly, only after all other means of working the issue out have been tried, but since the husband has to answer for it to God, his must be the deciding vote.
When this system functions properly, both the husband and the wife exercise a great deal of independent authority in the running of the household and the marriage. It is a partnership, and while the husband is the senior partner, they generally function as equals. The marriage runs smoothly (relatively) and there are few situations where the issue of who is in charge even comes up. A good husband will trust his wife completely in the exercise of her responsibilities, reinforce and never undercut her with other people or the children. He will cherish her and instruct her in the faith so they can both succeed in their assigned roles.
A good wife will fill her role in the household to the best of her ability. She will honor and respect her husband’s position. She will resist him when he goes off the rails and remind him of his responsibilities when (not if, but when) he falls down on the job. Part of her responsibility is to keep him straight. This must be done in love. The shrewish nagging that this can sometimes become is not Biblical.
For most people this turns into a system where each person ‘owns’ certain responsibilities, such as managing the house or disciplining the children. The spouse in charge of each area would do well to submit to the other spouse’s will in that area. A good husband will only override what his wife wants to do if it conflicts with God’s word or if it is clearly not in the best interest of the family – and there had better be a clear and convincing discussion.