Look around in today's society at what image is portrayed of man. Not"man" meaning mankind, but man, the guy, the father, the husband. Whatimage is being portrayed? We see men portrayed as the goof ball in thefamily, nothing but the cut-up man for the straight guy played by thewife or the kids. He never seems to have the right answer and always isin the dark about what is really going on. Gone are the days of FatherKnows Best, Ward Beaver, and Andy Griffith where the men were respectedby their children, allowed to lead by their wife and were seen as asomeone to turn to when life just seemed hard. They had wisdom andcompassion. Not any more.
But why is that? Why has the TVindustry and Hollywood tried to make the father/husband out to be sucha clown today? They portray him as out of touch with reality and withlife. No longer do the children ask Dad for advice, after all, all heknows is sports, beer, and women. Mom's really in charge now. We see itin the shows we watch, in the movies that are made and even in thejokes we guys tell each other (who hasn't heard the man say to "ask theboss" and talk about who has the check book all the time).
Godnever intended man to be portrayed in this image. In fact the Biblesays "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God hecreated him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27 NIV) Thisis not to say that we are like God, but we are made in His image. God'simage is not one of a clown, and neither should a man's image be(woman’s either for that matter).
God gave manresponsibilities. "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved thechurch and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her bythe washing with water through the word, and to present her to himselfas a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, butholy and blameless." (Ephesians 5:25-27 NIV) Jesus, our savior, Lordand example, gave up all of Heaven for His bride, the church. He livedHis life in the way we are suppose to live ours and gave His very bloodto wash us and make us clean, without spot or wrinkle. A husband is tobe that example to his wife, to give his all, to the point of evendying to himself, serving his wife and family so that they may haveevery opportunity to be presentable to Christ.
Men also haveresponsibilities with their children. "Fix these words of mine in yourhearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them onyour foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them whenyou sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down andwhen you get up." (Deuteronomy 11:18-19 NIV) A father is the spiritualcompass for his children. Statistics have shown that a father committedto serving Jesus Christ has a greater influence on the children'sdecision to serve Christ than that the mothers own commitment. Why isthat? It is because God has made the father the head of the household.He is the spiritual leader of the house, the Priest, and it shows inthe affect he has on his children.
What image are you portrayingmen? When the world looks at you could they take your life and put itin a sitcom? Would anyone be able to see a difference between you andthe other guy from TV? What about your children? What are they learningabout Christ in your daily living? Do they see a man that they respect,look up to and love, or do they just see another Al Bundy or HomerSimpson?