Why You Can't Drift Into Greatness

SPEAKER_00 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 0:25

Good morning, gentlemen. I'm Steve Alesi, and it's time for another man up moment, with today's devotional being about a man who builds his life as opposed to a man who simply drifts through life. Proverbs 1, 1 through 3 is our reading. It says the Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, King of Israel, for attaining wisdom and discipline, for understanding words of insight, for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair. I have a saying, wisdom keeps you out of the ditch, deliverance needs to get you out of. What does that mean? Well, some guys make foolish choices in life, which leads to bad outcomes, only then needing to turn to God to rescue them. Wisdom, however, helps you on the front side of that bad choice and keeps you from falling. One of the greatest lies a man can believe is life will just work itself out. Well, it won't. You see, no man accidentally becomes a great husband. No father accidentally raises godly children. No businessman accidentally will build integrity. No believer will accidentally grow closer to God. That's because everything worthwhile in life is built on purpose. And that's exactly why Solomon begins the book of Proverbs this way. He tells us these words were written for something. They were written for wisdom, for discipline, for understanding, for living a life that is prudent, right, just and fair. In other words, God doesn't want us wandering through life hoping things turn out okay. He wants us living with intentionality. So there's a progression. First comes wisdom, and wisdom is knowing God's truth. Then comes discipline, which is having the character to live God's truth. Many men know what they should do, far fewer constantly do it. For knowledge without discipline will produce frustration in a man's life, but discipline turns knowledge into transformation. As we keep reading, Solomon says we are to acquire a disciplined and prudent life. What he's saying there is a prudent man, he's gonna think ahead. I like to say he's playing the long game. He doesn't simply react to life. No, he prepares for life. So he plans financially, he protects his marriage, he invests in his children, he guards his integrity, he stays spiritually healthy before crisis ever comes. Why? Because wise men understand something immature men often miss, and that is today's discipline becomes tomorrow's blessings. So every time you choose prayer, you choose it over passivity, that is a discipline that's going to bless you. Every time you choose honesty over convenience, or you choose faithfulness over feelings, you're laying another brick in the foundation of your future. Then Solomon says our lives should be marked by doing what is right, just, and fair, which tells us real masculinity isn't just about power and strength. It's about responsibility. It's doing the right thing when nobody else is watching. It's treating people fairly when you have an advantage over them. It's keeping your word when it costs you something. It's standing for truth even when it's unpopular. Yes, the world measures men by success, but God, He measures men by character. And character isn't built in one big decision, it's actually built in thousands of small ones. Every discipline choice is another vote to becoming the man God created you to be. So here's your man up challenge. Today, identify one area of your life that's running on autopilot. Maybe it's your spiritual life or your marriage, your parenting, your finances, maybe it's your health, or even your work ethic. Instead of drifting through today, make one intentional decision that moves you toward becoming the man God is calling you to be. Whatever it is, don't wait until tomorrow, because disciplined men don't hope for a better life. So man up, gentlemen. Let's do it together. Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us your word to teach us wisdom and discipline. Help me stop drifting through life, God, and start living intentionally. Build in me the character to do what is right, just, and fair, even when no one else notices. Make me a man whose life reflects your truth every single day. In Jesus' name. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 5:34

All right, gentlemen, you've heard God's word. 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.