Articles . Volume 13 | Issue 11

What’s My Main Job as a Man?

Written by: Bill Elliff

Of all the conversations I’ve had with hundreds of men across the years, the number one question is: “What am I suppose to do with my life?” We want to know our PURPOSE.

This is one of the reasons I was so fascinated to learn that the primary buyers of Rick Warren’s book are men, (which I wish I wrote ‘cause it has sold over 35 MILLION copies!). Very unusual for high volume book sales, but it indicates that it hit the nerve. It’s the big question for men. What is God’s purpose for my life? As always, God is not silent. He tells us. Look at Paul’s instructions to the young man, Timothy.

1 Timothy 2:3-8
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

Notice…

GOD’S INSATIABLE DESIRE
vs. 4 “…who desires or all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.”

This is God’s main purpose. This was Jesus’ purpose to “seek and to save that which was lost.” How could it not be ours?

GOD’S PERFECT PROVISION
vs. 4-6 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the MAN Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.”

One translation reads, “God is on one side and all the people on the other side and Jesus Christ, Himself man, is between them, bringing them together.” This is our message and when we share it, it works. It’s called the good news, by the way…the gospel!

GOD’S UNENDING PURPOSE FOR MEN
“For this I was appointed a preacher, apostle, teacher to the Gentiles.”

The word appointed means “put.” God has PUT ME somewhere as a man. My job is to share the truth with everyone around me in “faith and truth.” Regardless of my avocation (the way I make my living) my vocation (my main job) is to share Christ with others. If you are not doing this task you will always feel unfulfilled. If you are doing this purpose—no matter where you are or what task is at hand—you will feel incredibly fulfilled. Why? Because this is why you have been left on the earth!

GOD’S INEXHAUSTIBLE POWER FOR MEN
“Therefore (in light of God’s desire and His provision and our calling) “I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”

Notice…

It starts with the MEN. We think prayer is woman’s work. It is a man’s main task to pray!

It’s my job in every place. There is no environment that should be off limits for prayer. We should pray in our homes, in our cars, at work, at the church, by ourselves, with other men. We must learn as men to pray without ceasing. When we pray we are tapping into God and bringing Him into the equation in each environment. And prayer is what makes us SUPER-MEN. Men with God in and through them.

We should lift holy hands. We must cleanse ourselves through Christ in prayer so every obstruction to prayer is gone. And we must “lift up holy hands.” Lifting our hands helps us turn our attention to our Father. It makes us direct our attention in one place. It indicates, as men, that we realize we are helpless, like a child lifting their hands to their father. It’s the right posture to pray.

We should pray without wrath or dissension. We must lay aside (against our leaders particularly is the context here in this chapter) any wrath or dissension. I have a tendency to really get angry with our governmental leaders, or my wife, or my boss, or others, for instance and not pray for them. God says leaders are God’s instruments and the “heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord and like rivers of water He turns them wherever He wills.” Sometimes they’re instruments of peace, sometimes God’s judgment. I need to not get angry with them, but PRAY for them!

So men, here’s the question: Am I fulfilling my manly purpose? Am I “put” and sharing the gospel where I’m put and am I “praying, in every place”? Put and Praying!

“Men are God’s method. The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men who the Holy Spirit can use – men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not come on machinery but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men – men of prayer.” (E.M. Bounds)

(copyright Bill Elliff, All Rights Reserved)