How God Intends to Use Men in the World

Men Are Called to Work in the World

In Genesis 2, we can more clearly see and narrow down the details of what, specifically, men are made for and how God intends to use men in the world.1 In Genesis 2:15, we specifically see that the man is commissioned with two certain tasks as his creation mandates: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (emphasis added). And note, God commanded the man to do these things not for some arbitrary reason, but because God made him in such a way that he is suited for those tasks (i.e., his entire mental and physical framework was made for those tasks). Also, notice that both charges, to work and keep, are directed toward the garden—meaning that the man is to be focused toward the world and things around him.

Now, before we move on, this is a really important takeaway that needs to be mentioned: Adam had to be created with masculine traits in order to effectively fulfill that mission—which means, according to Genesis, masculinity itself is actually a good thing! And in fact, per Genesis 1:31, we know it is a very good thing! It wasn’t until after the fall (Genesis 3) that those traits became marred and abused by sin (more on that in a moment).

Let’s look at those two words that God uses to describe man’s creation mandate, starting with the first one: work. This word in Hebrew2 is ‘avad, which generally means to labor in service. More specifically, it’s a work in service to something greater than ourselves. So this clearly means that men are called to industry—to work in the world—in whatever part of the world they’re placed in. And through their work, they can serve a purpose that’s greater than themselves.

For instance, men can provide for others, like a family (which is the usual case for most). Men can also support, build, and maintain society and its institutions. And ultimately, men can advance the kingdom of God by preaching his Word, planting churches, and building ministries. Of course, there are many more examples we can list, but here’s the point: men need to have a sense of purpose and direction—so they can advance that as something greater than themselves. Thus, men disciplining themselves in purposeful industry is not only good for families, but also for their communities—and God’s kingdom.

Men Are Called to Take Responsibility

Now let’s look at the second word: keep. This word in Hebrew is shamar, which generally means to guard, preserve, and save. But at the core, it really means for a man to take responsibility for the protection and well-being of the sphere that’s been given to him by God. Of course, that responsibility will look a bit different for each man. Some are given a very large amount of responsibility, while others are given only a little. But for most, the sphere of responsibility given to them will look similar to Adam’s (consisting of a family and a “garden”). However, as we’ll see in a moment, Adam failed in this task of taking responsibility for his sphere.

After God gives the creation mandate, he gives Adam just one command with a consequence: not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the punishment is death (Genesis 2:16–17). Then, for the first time, God says something is not good: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” (Genesis 2:18). God then brings all the animals to Adam, but none of them were found to be a helper fit for him (Genesis 2:19–20).

So then, God puts Adam into a deep sleep, takes one of his ribs, and uses it to make the first woman. When he brings her to Adam, he says, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:21–23). This was the first marriage as instituted by God. At last, the man had the helper he needed to complete the mission! (In the next chapter, we find out that Adam calls her Eve because she was “the mother of all the living.”)3

True biblical manhood is about man building God’s house—by building his own—but this work can’t be completed alone. Hence the reason why God brought the woman to the man as his helper. He is the head/leader, and she is the body/follower.4 Thus, the man is called to protect his wife at all costs—because she is the vital part of his sphere of responsibility (this is also clearly taught in the New Testament; consider Ephesians 5:22–32). So, while feminists are saying that marriage is “oppressing” women, the Bible says marriage actually protects women and gives them an essential role. But again, it’s this biblical hierarchy that our secular culture is trying to invert! Why? Ultimately, it’s because of sin, which brings us to the next chapter.

Men Are Not Called to Play the Victim

In Genesis 3, we see the first and foundational failure by man. Remember, Adam was called by God to take responsibility for the protection and well-being of the garden (i.e., to guard the sacred space)—which included his wife. But when a serpent, which was being influenced by Satan, approaches his wife and deceives her into doubting God’s authoritative word (Genesis 3:1–5)—Adam, who was likely there the entire time, just stands there and passively lets it happen!5

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her,and he ate. (Genesis 3:6, emphasis added)

So, rather than “protecting his lady from the dragon,” he neglects his God-given responsibility—and instead commits high treason against his King—thus, introducing sin and death into the whole world (Romans 5:12, 8:22).

And when God confronts the man in his disobedience, he goes into hiding (Genesis 3:8–9). So, instead of taking responsibility, Adam decides to play the victim—and even blames his wife! “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate” (Genesis 3:12). Also notice that even though it was the woman who was deceived and ate the fruit first, God calls to the man to confront the matter and take responsibility, which he utterly fails to do. In other words, he shifts the blame from himself toward the woman—and ultimately toward God.

But pause for a moment and think about what this really means. Recall that the punishment for eating the fruit is death. So, when Adam blames Eve, he’s effectively saying this: “Kill her, not me!” But remember, he has the responsibility to protect her—and yet he instead wants her to take the blame and die for him! And then, naturally, Eve imitates him in the blame game and points to the serpent: “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (Genesis 3:13).6

Of course, all three of them (the man, the woman, and the serpent) bear the consequences for their actions. Adam was made to work a cursed earth that would now rebel against him; Eve was made to help Adam, and she would now rebel against his rulership; the serpent was cursed to be made lower than the beasts—and promised a fatal crushing blow from the woman’s seed (Genesis 3:14–18). But again, the overall responsibility is accounted to the man—because the garden was his sphere of responsibility. And that’s why Adam’s (not Eve’s) name is attached to the fall for all of history (Romans 5:12–19; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22).

So the point here is that this “victim mentality” is the polar opposite of responsibility. Yet sadly, because every man is a descendant of Adam, men today tend to fall into the exact same trap as Adam did—not stepping up to the plate, not being accountable, and not taking responsibility for his sphere of responsibility. In other words, Genesis gives us the reason why men have the tendency to pathetically avoid their God-given responsibility. Or as Martyn Iles (Executive CEO of Answers in Genesis) puts it: “There is nothing more pathetic than a man who won’t take responsibility.”7

Men Are Called to Be the Spiritual Heads

However, being descendants of Adam also means that every man today still has those same masculine traits that are needed to fulfill the creation mandate—which didn’t go away after the fall! So, rather than simply “giving up” God-given masculinity, a man needs to learn to properly harness his strength in order to fulfill that mandate—which, by God’s perfect design, must start in the home.

The household is the first and foremost institution where the creation mandate is fulfilled. And from Scripture, it’s clear that the leadership of the husband in the home is not merely a command—it’s a fact. Even in the New Testament, Scripture makes it very clear that the man is the head of the household and his sphere of responsibility, regardless of whether he agrees or not (e.g., 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:23; 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Peter 3:1–7). It’s simply a matter of whether he will be a good leader or not. That means the man is responsible for the actions of his entire household—even if he is not to blame for those actions. Therefore, he must not fall into the same trap as Adam of blame-shifting or excuse-making.

But you still might be wondering, how do men practically guard, preserve, and take responsibility for their homes and communities today? We no longer live in a time where men have to protect their towns from physical dangers like wild beasts, dragons, or hostile tribes. Most of us live in a much more safe and secure area, so many people tend to wonder if masculinity is really all that necessary today.

Of course, Adam had to be able to perform those duties after the fall—and it is certainly a good thing for a man to possess the physical strength and skill to defend his people from harm. But before the fall, notice that Adam’s primary responsibility was spiritual. He was first responsible for ensuring that God’s authoritative word was to have the highest honor in his garden and in his family, which he failed to do when he allowed it to be questioned, undermined, and ultimately disobeyed.

Every man today has this same spiritual responsibility—to ensure the Word of God is honored in his sphere of responsibility. And that’s why a father is the spiritual head of the home, providing not only material blessings for his family but also spiritual blessings through his faithful leadership. So, as men, we are called to not merely be responsible but submitted to the One who holds us responsible.8

Men Are Called to Redeem the Time

So, since men are called to get off the couch and start working (‘avad) and taking responsibility (shamar) in the world, it’s no wonder that the Bible repeatedly warns men against idleness/laziness! For instance, just consider Proverbs 12:24, 13:4, 19:15, 20:4, 21:25; Ecclesiastes 10:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 5:8 (we could keep going . . . but I’m sure you get the point).

Yet many men in these current generations struggle in these areas, not knowing their work or mission, thus generally failing to finish what they start—dropping out of school, quitting their jobs, and so on. That’s why it’s so important, especially for young men, not to give up but to stay the course in whatever specific thing God has called them to do in the world. Bluntly put, completing—and succeeding at, as God allows—his work is what every man is called to do.

Like battery acid on metal, the sin of idleness will slowly corrode and eat away at a man’s masculinity, disabling his ability to fulfill his creation mandate—which has always been one of the primary goals of Satan. And this can take several forms today, such as men spending way too many hours on the internet, addicted to video games, hooked on pornography, or just simply wasting away—pursuing empty activities that mean nothing ultimately.

The solution? First, men need to examine their pursuits (whatever they’re committing their time/effort) and ensure they’re making the best use of their time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). So use your time wisely! Second, men need to focus on pursuits that will shape them to become better leaders, providers, and protectors of their sphere of responsibility. Practically, as a Christian, this means regularly studying God’s Word, being consistently mentored by older (wiser) men in the faith, and basically doing whatever it takes to increase in spiritual wisdom and growth in the knowledge of God (2 Peter 3:18). Submit yourself to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

Men Are Called to Be on the Front Lines

Ultimately, only two religions exist in this world: one that is grounded on God’s infallible Word (Christianity), and the other that tries to elevate man’s fallible opinions to supersede God’s ultimate authority (humanism). And every generation has always reflected this core battle that’s happening in the culture—the battle between two opposing religions.

Satan has been using the same Genesis 3 attack throughout history: getting people to doubt the authority of God’s Word and to be “like God” by trying to elevate man’s authority above God’s (i.e., human autonomy). This means the war on biblical manhood is actually a war on God—being waged by rebels who are at war with him. And strong, godly men of conviction have always been on the front lines of that battle in every generation.

No doubt, there are fundamental differences between men and women, between masculine and feminine qualities (which the secular culture today is desperately trying to blur together). But one of those clear major differences is the spiritual impact of men on every sphere of society and the world at large. That is, men have a unique “superpower,” and associated responsibility, given to them by God that can massively impact the world around them. And that’s why the historical record, from the patriarchs to the apostles, i.e., not only in Genesis but throughout the whole Bible—is overwhelmingly male.9 Martyn Iles sums it up like this:

For good or for evil, he will have an impact at large, on his times, that is essentially male. There is no getting around this truth. The witness of Scripture is clear—whether prophets, priests, patriarchs, apostles, pastors—the biblical blueprint for such things is overwhelmingly male. God designed it so, ever since Adam. Indeed, we read in Isaiah 3 that the spiritual failure of men is a judgment of God on a society. I am troubled about this possibility in our day.10

In other words, when God made these specific masculine qualities as part of the creation mandate, God put them in “bold type” that continued to be reinforced and emphasized consistently from Genesis to Revelation. Why? Again, because men are made with this good and powerful thing called masculinity that is not only suited to these pursuits but is also realized and developed in them—and that’s why the impact on the world is so significant when men step up and do them.

So here’s the takeaway: men are called to be the faithful leaders on the front lines in this spiritual battle and (once again) be the ultimate defenders of their homes, their churches, their communities, and their nations.

But of course, just because it’s natural for men to be spiritual leaders does not automatically mean that they will do it righteously. Good things can be (and usually are) perverted by sin! And because masculinity was created as such a powerful force for good, it can be easily twisted by sin into a powerful force for evil.

Young men today are being conditioned into thinking that their masculinity is the problem—rather than their sinfulness.

However, young men today are being conditioned (sadly, even by some church leaders!) into thinking that their masculinity is the problem—rather than their sinfulness. And that’s why the next generation of men desperately needs to hear this: Scripture clearly states that your masculine traits are a good thing, made by God from the beginning when he created man. So your masculine desires to build and shape the world have nothing to do with the fall. As a descendant of Adam, you desire to subdue the earth because that’s what Adam was created to do—before the fall. So do not let anyone try to convince you otherwise, telling you that your masculinity is “toxic” (or any other such nonsense).

In fact, biblically speaking, real “toxic masculinity” is what you find in sinful men who succumb to Satan’s lies (like Adam did). Therefore, the only real question is whether a man will be an unfaithful leader like the first Adam or a faithful leader like the last Adam—Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45).

Men Are Called to Be Like Christ: The Bridegroom & the Warrior

Masculine desires are gifts from God, so there’s nothing shameful about them. Yet they do need to be properly harnessed and oriented in the right direction (like a powerful cannon, which can do a lot of unintended damage if pointed in the wrong direction). So this brings us now to the most important step to restoring biblical manhood, to rebuilding the “walls” that have been burnt down: we are to be imitators of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)—because he is the true substance and goal of manhood! But to imitate him means to actually know him, which cannot be done from a distance—it’s only through discipleship. In other words, imitating him means to be under his authority as his disciple.

But to do that, you first need to be in Christ. Meaning the only way to regain true biblical manhood is through the gospel. So, if you haven’t already, the first step is to repent (turn from sin) and put your faith in Christ to become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Once you’re saved with a new heart and desires (or “born again” per John 3:3), then you will start to be transformed into the image of Christ—not by your own strength but by the strength of the Spirit that now resides in you.11

So what does it essentially mean to be a faithful leader like Christ? It means to be like the last Adam who succeeded where the first Adam failed. Or simply, we are to be like the bridegroom and the warrior—two terms used throughout Scripture that describe Christ. He is considered the bridegroom who greatly loves and rejoices over his bride—the church (e.g., 1 Corinthians 12:27; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 21:2, 22:17)—and the warrior who slayed the dragon to get the girl (e.g., Matthew 12:29; Luke 11:22; John 12:31; Hebrews 2:14, 10:13; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 19:11, 20:10). Christ is the ultimate strong man who lovingly leads his bride and keeps her safe and secure in his hands—the very thing that the first Adam failed to do.

Both are images of what biblical manhood looks like! In other words, the lover and the soldier, the man of love and the man of war—both illustrate what a man is called to be in his sphere of responsibility. For instance, as fathers, the former points inward toward the family, while the latter points outward toward external dangers—protecting them from both physical and spiritual threats. That is, a faithful leader fights for his people because he loves his people. Or in the words of G.K. Chesterton: “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”12

In fact, we also see this in one of the Psalms written by Christ’s royal ancestor—King David:13

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. (Psalm 19:1–5, emphasis added)

Notice the two phrases that David uses to describe the sun: a bridegroom and a strong man. And so, the sun—which, by the way, was made by Christ (John 1; Colossians 1; Hebrews 1)—is also an excellent illustration of what godly manhood looks like.

Furthermore, this Psalm gives us another key term that is essential to biblical manhood: gravity. It illustrates what it means for a man to have gravity, or gravitas,14 which is at the core of biblical manhood. This is essentially the spiritual “weight” that keeps your people in your “orbit” (in the same way the sun, by its gravitational pull, keeps the planets in order). For men, this gravitas comes from many different things, but it ultimately comes from fearing the Lord and abiding in him, becoming more closely conformed to his infinitely weighty image. That is what makes a man stable and steadfast—not letting the people in his sphere be pulled away or be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, human cunning, or craftiness in deceitful schemes (Ephesians 4:14).

And one other key term we see is that a man runs his course with joy. In other words, it’s important for men not only to take initiative and responsibility and have confidence and strength but also to have gladness and joy. Practically, this means that a man gladly gets up in the morning, goes to work to provide for his household, and comes home to them not with a list of harsh demands but with a joyful eagerness to give. A faithful leader understands the value of his loving affection and service toward his people—which includes lots of conversations around the dinner table, reading books together, big hugs, wrestling, “monkey backpack” rides (and, of course, tickle fights!).

Finally, it’s important that men learn to be joyful and content with whatever allotment God has given them. We’re to be like Christ’s apostle, Paul, who learned to be content in any circumstance (Philippians 4:10–12). So, to be clear, you are not (and never will be) Superman, Batman, James Bond, or John Wick. You won’t have any super epic responsibility or mission like flying into space to stop an asteroid headed toward earth or taking down criminal empires to save the city, though it’s good to desire such things as justice and protecting and saving the world. But it’s important to remember not to let any prideful or unrealistic ambitions effectively blind you to what’s actually in front of you that’s been given by the Lord.

It starts with fathers teaching their boys how to be men—modeled after the perfect man, our Lord Jesus Christ.

So then, where do we start? It starts with fathers teaching their boys how to be men—modeled after the perfect man, our Lord Jesus Christ. And ultimately, it starts with brave men refusing to cower in fear, boldly standing on the authoritative Word of God, and fearlessly proclaiming biblical truth against a secular culture that hates the truth—no matter the cost. Just like God made Nehemiah rebuild the walls of Jerusalem with a trowel in one hand and a weapon in the other hand, now is the time for courageous Christian leaders to step up and rally the men like Nehemiah did to rebuild the crumbling walls. Only then can we hope to see a true revival of biblical masculinity.

Yes, our society is burning, and it is radically anti-masculinity. But now that you understand the problem and know the biblical answer for how God made you to be, the only question is: will you be a weak victim like Adam or a strong leader like Christ?

Men—It’s Time to Get to Work

Will you be a weak victim like Adam or a strong leader like Christ?

Of course, much more could be said on this topic . . . we’ve really only scratched the surface! The war on biblical manhood is a serious one, so I obviously can’t cover everything in such few words. However, you at least now have the foundational knowledge needed for restoring biblical manhood.

If you’d like to learn more about what is a man (and what is a woman) from a biblical perspective, a great place to start is with the book Who Am I? (written by AiG Executive CEO Martyn Iles). In fact, there is a plethora of good resources out there on how to be a godly man. But merely amassing loads of information about being a man is not how you become a man—you become a man by actually going out into the world and using that information. So just get out there and do it! And it’s vital that you do because, in the end, restoring (not rejecting/eradicating) biblical manhood is the key to transforming our messed-up culture.

This is why it’s so important for men of all ages and walks of life to not surrender to the latest barrage of anti-men attacks. Men must plant their feet, stand firm on God’s Word, and instruct the next generation to do the same. How? Recall, as Voddie Baucham put it: “By standing your ground, holding your head up high, and affirming what you know to be true.” And that truth is this: your masculinity is a good thing from God—the essential element required for becoming a strong leader, provider, and protector of your given sphere. It reflects Christ when used biblically and can restore a broken world. So ignore the secular world’s demands on you to be anything else, and together let’s pursue our creation mandate—upholding society and exercising dominion—by taking responsibility and getting to work.