## Faithful Men

## Psalm 112:1-3

Men don't always say what they mean, so ladies, please allow me to translate for your future benefit:

When a man says "it would take too long to explain" he means: "I have no idea how it works"

When a man says "take a break, honey. You are working too hard'' he means: "I can't hear the game over the vacuum cleaner"

When a man says 'that's interesting dear.' he means: "are you still talking?"

When a man says: "it's a guy thing" he means: "there is no rational thought pattern connected with this, and you have no chance at all of making it logical"

When a man says "can I help with dinner" he means: "why isn't it ready yet?"

When a man says "uh huh, sure honey," or "yes, dear" he means: absolutely nothing - it's a conditioned response.

When a man says "you know how bad my memory is." he means: " I can remember the theme song to 'Hogan's Heroes', the phone # of the first girl I ever kissed & the vehicle identification numbers of every car I ever owned - but yes, I forgot your birthday"

When a man says "I can't find it.'' he means: "it didn't fall into my outstretched hand, so I'm completely clueless"

When a man says "oh, don't fuss, I just cut myself. It's no big deal" he means: "I have probably severed a limb, but I will bleed to death before I admit I'm hurt, so get over here and help me!"

When a man says "you know I could never love anyone else" he means: "I am used to the way you yell at me and realize it could be worse."

When a man says "I heard you." He means: "I haven't the foggiest clue what you just said and I am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you'll not spend the next 3 days yelling at me."

When a man says "you look terrific!" he means: "oh please don't try on one more outfit, we're late and I'm starving."

When a man says "I'm not lost. I know exactly where we are.'' he means: "no one will ever see us alive again."

When a man says "I don't think I can go today." He means: "shopping is not a sport, and no, I am never going to think of it that way."

When a man says "I don't remember saying that." It's because he means: "anything I may have said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all past comments become null and void after 7 days."

When a man says, "that's not what I meant." He means: "if something I said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, I meant the other one.

The message today is not about the past; this is about our future prevention and present progress as godly faithful men!

(Proverbs 20:6) Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

More than ever before, we need to be godly faithful men.

Our wives need us to be godly faithful men.

Our children need us to be godly faithful men.

Our church needs us to be godly faithful men.

Our jobs need us to be godly faithful men.

Our world needs us to be godly faithful men.

Let me point you to one of many passages that speak directly to the issue of godly faithful men. Turn with me to Psalm 112. Let's read this powerful passage of scripture that was written by a man... for men.

Notice David is the author of this Psalm:

David was a Man's man.... Remember he was the brave lad who killed Goliath and cut off his head. He was a warrior.

David was a family man...He had the responsibilities of a wife and children. In fact this is one area of David's life where he produced his greatest failures. Like most men, David allowed other things to distract him from the priority and attention that should have been given to his family.

David was a business man, a man with great responsibilities... He was one of the most successful kings of all history. He was a builder and an administrator.

David was a spiritual man... He was "a man after God's own heart." David was a leader in temple worship. He wrote Psalms and hymns of praise. " David could relate to every man in this room today. He experienced everything we experience as men... And he usually excelled in everything he did. David can relate to us and most of us can relate to him.

Read: Psalm 112:1-3

I. Acknowledge The Power Of Our Influence.

(Psalms 112:1-2) Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

A. As husbands we have a powerful influence upon our wife and children.

1. Our wives need faithful godly leadership.

(Ephesians 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

2. Our children need direction and guidance from a faithful godly dad.

(Ephesians 6:4) And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

3. The Bible gives strong and explicit instructions to Dads on their responsibilities toward their children.

(Proverbs 13:24) He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

(Colossians 3:21) Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

II. Avoid The Pitfalls Of Our Masculinity.

A. ARROGANT Husbands and Fathers.

1. Most of us think we are Rambo, John Wayne, Brad Pitt and Albert Einstein all wrapped up into one.

2. Our wives understand that if they could buy us for what we are worth and sell us for what we think we are worth they could make a fortune!

3. Our pride and arrogance is what drives most of the other common failures and mistakes we make as Husbands and Fathers.

(Romans 12:3) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

B. AUTOCRATIC husbands and fathers.

1. Autocratic = absolute ruler w/ unlimited power.

2. Because most of us have such a big ego, we like to act like the "Big Boss" around the house. "King in Castle on His Throne"

3. The danger of this is that our children will rebel and our wife will be driven away from you.

C. ABSENTEE husbands and fathers.

1. The worse thing a man can do is to walk out on his family.

2. By the way, it is possible to be sleeping at home every night and still be an absentee father!

3. A recent NBC poll discovered that by the time the average child is 6 years old in America, he/she will have spent more time watching TV than they will spend talking with their fathers during their entire lives.

D. ABUSIVE husbands and fathers.

1. The rate of men abusing their wives and children seems to be rising exponentially these days.

2. I shouldn't have to say much about this, but don't think for a minute that this is only a problem outside of the church!

3. There is no excuse for a man to abuse his wife and children, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally.

4. Perhaps the worst abuse of all is 'spiritual abuse' … failure to be the godly faithful husband and father that we need to be!

III. Arrange The Priorities Of Our Life.

(Psalms 112:3) Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

A. A man's 1st priority must be his personal relationship with God.

B. A man's 2nd priority should be his family

C. A man's 3rd priority should be his ministry for the Lord.

D. Then comes the job or profession…a great many men have their priorities upside down!

1. Some would say, 'Well you have to make a living!', and that is true…but

2. Our family needs a godly faithful husband and father more than they need money!

3. When my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he didn't want more money…he longed for more time with his family!

4. I believe that will be the same for all of us.

(Matthew 6:33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

E. We set our priorities, no one else.

1. We cannot blame our jobs…

2. We cannot blame the busy world in which we live.

3. If our priorities are not in line, we have to be willing to rearrange them!

Let's take a moment this morning for some honest evaluation. As I said at the beginning, this message today is not about the past; this is about our future prevention and present progress as godly faithful men!

The first consideration is to make sure that we have a right relationship with God. Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are born again? If not, why not come now and settle this. Place your faith in the only Way of salvation…faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary.

If that is settled, then we need to evaluate our priorities this morning. Perhaps we need to make some adjustments. Come now; do not delay.