Building Men

Colossians 3:23-24

Introduction

Today’s culture often undermines the development of boys into responsible, godly men.

Instead of embracing work as a vital part of life and building identity within Christ and the family, society often emphasizes individualism and self-gratification.

To counter this, we need to focus on instilling a robust theology of work and a strong, Christ-centered identity in our boys.

A Theology of Work

We need to reclaim the goodness of work in our homes (Gen. 2:15; Ecc. 2:24; Eph. 4:28).

We need to take care how we talk about work we do (Phil. 2:14).

Be thoughtful about creating daily work for your children (1 Thess. 4:11-12).

This will require extra work on your part…at first.

Don’t let thoughts of efficiency overwhelm thoughts of training.

Training children isn’t efficient work.

The result will actually be quite satisfying as you actually develop competent helpers.

We need to see this not just a good but a necessary part of life.

Jesus was the son of a carpenter. He knew hard work and all that comes with it (Lam. 3:25-27).

Remember, just because you can pay someone to do it, doesn’t mean your son will be able to when he starts out on his own.

Point the attention to God in their work (Col. 3:23-24).

This idea of the constant presence of God should be shot through our lives.

Both in the small and in the great.

Do you put your buggy back in the parking lot?

Do you show your son that workmanship is important even when no one sees.

Find examples for them to follow (Prov. 22:29).

We need to reintroduce concepts of apprenticeship both in and outside of our homes.

Develop not only the knowledge but the relationships that go along with that knowledge.

Conclusion: By instilling a theology of work in our boys, we are preparing them to be diligent, responsible, and productive men. Work becomes not just a means of provision but a way to honor God and serve others. As parents, particularly fathers, we must be intentional in teaching and modeling these values, ensuring that our sons grow up understanding the true purpose and value of work.

Building Identity

We need to teach our sons what it means to be sons of God (Gen. 5:1-3).

We need to show them that our own identity is rooted in Christ (Gal. 2:20).

It should be our constant conversation (Deut. 6:1-9).

We need to root them in the identity of our family (Eph. 6:1-4).

This includes roles and responsibilities in the home.

Both now and for when they assume their roles in maturity.

But it also includes what it means to be a part of THIS specific house (Ex. 3:6; Jer. 35).

We need to root them in the identity of our church (Mk. 10:30).

This involves a lot more closeness among folks than is culturally comfortable.

Again, this involves being involved yourself.

We aren’t just talking playdates here though those are good too.

We are talking about making sure they learn to see the church as an extended family.

Through this they learn compassion, patience and the hard work of loving others.

We need to understand the cultural challenges (cf. Prov. 22:6).

The world increasingly tells parents that they need to let their children find their own identity.

Proverbs 22:6 is reinterpreted to mean that parents should figure out the individual unique path of their child and train him down that path.

This is modernist folly. While there is plenty of room for individual personalities and talents, we have made it ALL about those things instead of conforming to the identities of God, family, and the church.

We need to move away from the foolish notion that kids can figure all of this out for themselves.

We ought to have a picture and train with determined purpose to that end.

Conclusion: By grounding their identity in Christ, family, and church, we help our boys navigate the pressures of modern culture and develop a strong, God-centered sense of self. Too often we tell boys their identity is up for grabs and give only the barest foundations and expect them to find the rest.

Conclusion

Culture has shifted radically and seems poised to do more still.

We need to do better than simply cut out the explicitly sinful elements but otherwise look pretty well the same.

We need a better vision for our sons, one rooted in God’s word.

Maybe we don’t have that in our own lives. We need to go get it.

I am open to hear more about how we can accomplish these things but brethren, this job isn’t getting easier.

We are swimming upstream as much as ever on this.

Maybe you’re here and you realize that your own identity isn’t rooted in Christ the way it ought to be. If so, then we invite you to come while we stand and sing.