Identity Source

"Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, 'Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.' Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, 'Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.' So she named him Simeon. She conceived again and bore a son and said, 'Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.' Therefore he was named Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “'This time I will praise the Lord.' Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing." -Genesis 29.32-35

We find an interesting thought here, Leah, the first wife, the one that Jacob never wanted but got landed with, was unloved. God saw this and had compassion on her giving her children, while Rachel, the favorite wife, was barren. Leah conceives and has a son. She believes because of it Jacob will love her.

How many men want a son? I'll be honest, I do. I want someone to lead and guide on the masculine journey. But as I've thought about it over the past few days I've wondered how many men make a son their source of identity. I think for many it's just that. Men want sons, but why? I think for many it's a source of identity. And this is a problem.

As a father, it is your responsibility to make the world safe for your children. Your strength is there to protect and provide for your family. And yet you find your identity in a new born infant. This is a shaky foundation that can't hold up, because you've put your identity on someone who hasn't found their own yet, and needs you to help them find it.

Where is your identity found? What happens if you never have a son? How do you help someone find there identity when you base yours on them?

Men, if we would be men of God, our identity must be found in Him. And once we have our identity firmly rooted in God, we can help our sons find theirs.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Don't Settle

"Then Jacob said to Laban, 'Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her.' Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, 'What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?' But Laban said, 'It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.' Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years." Genesis 29.21-30

Jacob reaches Laban's house and stays with his uncle. He begins to work for him and they come to agreement on the wages. Jacob will serve him seven years for Rachel, Laban's daughter. The years go by quickly, and they seem like a few days. I can hardly believe my wife and I have been married for three years this August, it doesn't seem like it's been that long. And when the agreed time is up, Jacob asks for his wages. But the trickster becomes the tricked.

Laban has the feast, gathers the people, and a celebration occurs. But that night he brings Leah, the first born and gives her to Jacob. And in the morning Jacob sees what happened. He confronts his uncle, and he says, "Well, this is the way we do things here, so you have to take her." I'm guessing Jacob protested a little, and was pretty angry, and so Laban says, finish the week, then I'll give you Rachel, and you give me another seven years." And Jacob does it.

Men, the lesson we find here is not to settle. I'm not giving you permission to leave your wife, so don't read that into this. But I am saying don't sell yourself short in the search for a wife. Don't marry the first girl you meet. Get to know her, see if she challenges you to be better. Does she enrich your life? Or is she the only one you could get to say yes?

But it's more than just with a spouse. Don't settle for a C average in school. Give it your best, work hard, and do all that you can. Don't settle for the first job that will pay you. Pursue your dream. You may have to work a job you're not crazy about for a while, but don't lose sight of the dream and stick it out because it pays well.

We all have dreams and passions, we all have goals, don't settle for anything less. Pursue them and don't stop. Now again to clarify, there are ambitions that aren't of God. There are drives we have that may take our focus off of Him because they cause us to live for our self. You don't want those, because those too cause you to settle. You're settling for less than God made you to be.

Don't settle in the masculine journey. God created you to be a man of God, don't settle for anything less. Pay whatever cost is required, and reach the destination of who God created you to be. Don't settle.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor