The Steps of a Good Man
Notes
Transcript
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of United States
A mighty man trusts God’s leadership, turns from sin, and teaches his family God’s ways.
A Mighty Man Trusts God (vv. 23-24, 3-6)
A Mighty Man Trusts God (vv. 23-24, 3-6)
The steps of a “good man” (a strong or mighty man). This term was often used for warriors.
Trusting God is not passive, but active. We are constantly bombarded with reason to fear or doubt the path. It takes a decision to trust in the Lord.
Trust means that I believe God has planned out the path and upholds my way.
Trust means that my way is committed to the Lord and I go forward with the assurance that He will direct.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Seek the Lord then move forward with confidence in His providential care!
A Mighty Man Turns from Sin (vv. 27-29)
A Mighty Man Turns from Sin (vv. 27-29)
His trust in the Lord causes him to understand the end of wickedness and turn from it.
Envy and worry lead to sin. (verses 8-9) Many people out of envy and greed try to take short cuts to prosperity. Those who trust in the Lord know that God’s way will yield lasting fruit, though it takes more time!
Turn away from the craving of controversy, but turn toward contentment in the Lord.
Paul warned about those who taught unsound doctrine:
he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
A man of God is not only known by what he turns from, but more importantly, what he turns toward.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
A man of God recognizes what is of lasting importance and builds his life upon it.
A Mighty Man Teaches His Family (vv. 30-31, 25-26, 37-38)
A Mighty Man Teaches His Family (vv. 30-31, 25-26, 37-38)
A man of God teaches with his witness and his words.
He lives a life that demonstrates trust in the Lord to his children and grandchildren.
He understands that God provides for his needs through his labor and his children become a blessing.
He takes responsibility for the instruction of his children.
Spiritually - Learning starts with spiritual instruction.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
God’s command to fathers is to use daily life to teach His Word and His ways.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Fill you home with the word of God!
Educationally
Part of the problem in our world today is the lack of historical instruction
Verse 37 - “Mark the blameless and behold the upright...” - point out the historical figures who have followed God’s ways.
Men take responsibility to teach their children and grandchildren the truth of God’s Word and God’s ways!