The Fear That Makes a Man Strong

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Gentlemen, every day is a battle. A battle for your faith, your family, and your purpose. The men who stand strong don't prepare when the battle arrives. They prepare before it begins. Welcome to the Men's Morning Devotional. Let's get into God's word. It's time to man up.

Steve Alessi 0:26

Good morning, gentlemen. It's Steve Alesi, and it's time for another man up moment. And today, as we look at another wisdom principle, we're going to be talking about the fear that makes a man strong. The scripture is Proverbs 1, verse 7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Today I want to challenge you with a word that our culture is almost completely misunderstood. Fear. When the Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, it isn't talking about living terrified of God. It's talking about living with such respect, reverence, and awe for him that his opinion matters more than anyone else's. A real man doesn't build his life around the approval of people, but instead builds it around the approval of God. But let's be honest, every man fears something. Up at the farm, I see my caretaker Lane out working in the fields at 11 PM, alone, in the woods, in the dark, crazy. But Lane in South Florida traffic or have him pass through Miami International Airport and he freezes. You see, all of us have different fears. Some fear failure, some fear rejection, some not making enough money, or some fear looking weak, some even fear losing control. Whatever you fear the most will eventually become your master. But when you fear God above everything else, you become free from fearing everything else. The fear of the Lord becomes the foundation of wisdom because it's continually asking one question. What does God think about this? You see, before you make that business deal or click on that website or respond to your wife or discipline your kids, even spend your money or tell the story, a wise man pauses and asks, Does God honor this? That right there is the beginning of knowledge. The second half of this verse is equally important. It says, But fools despise wisdom and discipline. Notice it doesn't say fools don't hear wisdom. It says they despise it. They don't want anyone correcting them. They don't like accountability. They refuse coaching. Why? Because they think they've got life all figured out. See, that's what pride tells a man. It tells us nobody is going to tell me what to do. Wisdom, however, says, teach me, correct me, help me become the man God created me to be. One of the greatest marks of maturity is being coachable. Strong men aren't uncorrectable men, they're teachable men. The strongest man I know still reads God's word, admits when they're wrong, apologizes when necessary, and they keep growing. Weak men, however, their defenses, they defend themselves. But strong men develop themselves. Discipline is not God's punishment, it's actually God's pathway to becoming the man your family or your brothers or your church actually need you to become. A man who fears God welcomes discipline because he knows God is shaping him for something even greater. So here's your man up challenge. Today, before making every major decision, stop for just a few seconds and ask yourself, does God honor this? Then choose one area where you've been resisting correction, whether it's in your marriage, your finances, your health, your attitude or work ethic, even your spiritual life. Now, when God begins to speak, instead of defending yourself, invite wisdom in by even asking your wife or a trusted friend or a mentor this simple question. Is there one area where I need to grow as a man? And here's the hardest part don't explain it, don't defend it, don't justify it. Just listen. Because a man who fears the Lord is never afraid to grow. So remember this a fool resists correction, a wise man receives it. Today, man up. Let's pray. Father, help me fear you more than I feel failure, rejection, or the opinions of people. Give me a teachable spirit. Remove pride from my heart and help me welcome your wisdom and your discipline. Make me into the man you've called me to be, a man who honors you in every decision. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Now go live it. Lead well, stand strong, honor God in everything you do. Share this devotional with another brother. Remember, every day is another opportunity to man up.