God has called men to lead.

The following are five areas where men are specifically called to primary leadership.

Pursuing A Woman

A man leaves his father and mother and pursues a woman, not vice versa.  Many would say that this is old fashioned.  And it is old fashioned.  It was fashioned into the created order right from the beginning of time when God spoke about the first marriage. (Gen 2:18)

Marriage

In marriage, a man is the Christ-like head of the wife (Eph 5:23, 1 Cor 11:3).  Wives are to submit to their husband’s leadership and husbands are to lead in an understanding way (1 Pet 3:7) being careful not to be harsh with them (Col 3:19).

This way of relating between a husband and a wife was built into the created order.  Man is called to lead because woman was created from man and for man (1 Cor 11:8-9).

Adam also named Eve and her gender (Gen 3:23, 3:20).  That’s significant, because you can only name someone whom you have authority over.  I’ve never named another parent’s kids because I don’t have any authority over other people’s kids.  I name my kids because God has given me authority over them.  In the same way, the fact that Adam named Eve and her gender, shows his authority as the head, to build her up (2 Cor 13:10).

God’s beef with Adam at the fall was that he didn’t lead.  Instead of leading his wife he followed her (Gen 3:17).

Children

God has called men to keep their children submissive (1 Tim 3:4), not open to the charge of debauchery and rebellion (Titus 1:6).  A man is called to lead his children to belief in Jesus (Titus 1:6), bringing them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph 6:3).

Notice what that Ephesians 6:3 says: it’s a man’s job to lead in discipline and Godly instruction.  A wife is called to help (Gen 2:18) her husband in these areas, but it’s a man’s job to lead the children in these ways.

Household

Both men and women are called by God to lead their households (1 Tim 3:4, 5:14).  The man bears primary responsibility as the head while his wife helps.

Church

God has called both men and women to lead in the church, but he has reserved the primary leadership roles of elders and apostles for men.  Again, this originated in the created order because Adam was created first and then Eve (1 Tim 2:11-15).

When Jesus chose 12 apostles to lead his church, he chose 12 men.  And when Judas needed to be replaced, one of the criteria was that the replacement had to be one of the men who had accompanied them (Acts 1:21-22).

Conclusion

Most of the problems in this world are caused from men not leading well or not leading at all.

“Act like men.” (1 Cor 16:13).

Men lead.

(Image Credit: National Library of Scotland)