Understanding the Purpose and Power of Men

The Male as Teacher and Cultivator

most women know more of the Word than men do. How can a man be a teacher if he doesn‘t know the le ssons? Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Too often, fathers leave this responsibility solely to the mothers. This becomes es pecially difficult for women when the children reach a certain age in which th ey don‘t want to submit to authority. Men need to set a strong spiritual example for their children, especially at that particular time in their lives. Teaching is in the nature of a man. A teacher is always going to tell you how to do something. Sometimes it appears to women as if men are telling them what to do all the time. Suppose a husband comes home from work and notices that the kitchen is in disarray. He tells his wife there‘s a more efficient way to organize it and is surprised when she says, ―Who do you think you are? I‘ve been slaving in the house cleaning and taking care of the children all day, and now you want to tell me how to organize my kitchen?‖ But this is his nature. I‘m talking about the teaching tendency of a man now, not necessarily how he should communicate his information. Why does a man always want to correct things? A teach er desires to give input. He wants to feel as if he is responsi ble for the progress of his ―class.‖ Therefore, he gives instructions, advice, and counsel. Now, his advice might not be any good, but he still wants to give it. What his wife can do in this particular circumstance is to nod and say, with sincerity, ―Thank you for your suggestion‖ and then go and do what she thinks is best. He often just needs to feel as if he‘s listened to and that his su ggestions are appreciated. Men need to set a strong spiritual example for Designed to Teach As was the case with the male‘s responsibilities as v i sionary and leader, the man has been designed with the capacity to fulfill his purpose of teaching.

their families.

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