The Sunday Mail
HAPPY Valentine’s Day to you all. I hope the day is special for you.
As you celebrate love today, remember to celebrate the God-kind of love that is kind, generous, warm and brings the best out of others.
It is not manipulative or controlling. Read 1 Corinthians 13 to understand further. Don’t just show love and kindness to your partner – extend it to your parents and your siblings.
In this day and age it is difficult to find the true definition of a man. Temptation is rife and there is so much pressure to prove one’s manhood by doing things that are not in line with the Scriptures.
You are made fun of if you do not have sex. If you do not drink alcohol then you are a wimp.
One has to have a sense of recklessness and senseless bravado to be considered macho. The pressure on young men these days is immense.
Naturally, this affects their relationships and the decisions they make when choosing a girlfriend and ultimately a wife.
Young man, you are not the first to be in this situation and you too will conquer and stand victorious if you are true to yourself.
From the end of Genesis 11 to Genesis 15 we read about a man named Abraham who was married to Sarah.
They were childless. This man was 85-years-old and he only knew his wife Sarah sexually. Even though he could have left her, he chose to be with her despite her not falling pregnant.
Have integrity. Be faithful to yourself and your values before you try to be faithful to someone else.
Joseph was another young man who found himself in an interesting situation. The boss’s wife wanted to sleep with him.
We have empowered women, older women target younger men and give them gifts for sexual favours. My friend, the joy is short-lived. You are short-changing yourself and mortgaging your future.
If Joseph had succumbed to temptation from Potipher’s wife we would have never seen God work wonders through his life.
Be a man of integrity, there are other ways to rise in life that might be tougher but are worth it.
The Psalmist says (Psalm 119:9): “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.” Verse 11 says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”
My question to you is what words are in your heart? What words do you live by?
King David is saying words can make you or break you.
Some young men grow up abused by words from family members, friends or teachers that scar them for life.
It becomes difficult to have a healthy relationship with anyone when your heart is filled with words of hatred, anger, pain, despair, rebuke.
Empty out your heart. Be honest with yourself and confess before God. Replace those negative words that have filled your heart and replace them with the Word of God.
Replace them with positive words, words of encouragement, words from balanced people who have an objective opinion of life.
Read books that change your frame of mind.
When you marry you will be the head of the house and your head must be screwed on right.
Men are visual beings and we tend to be moved by what we see. What do you see when you see a woman, or when you look at yourself in the mirror?
So long you do not see something properly you are bound to misunderstand and abuse it.
In Jeremiah 1:11-13, God asks Jeremiah, “What do you see? Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.”
Endeavour to see the world through God’s eyes. That will only come through association with the right people and getting involved in the right conversations. You have to make the effort to improve yourself as a person. There are two more quick examples I want to give.
In Proverbs the words “My Son” appear numerously. To be a virtuous man you need strong male figures to look up to.
Adam who only got a wife when he was working in the Garden of Eden. As a young man you have to be engaged in something that is gainful, jobs might be difficult to come by but you can still be someone who applies themselves. We will pick this up next week. That is all for now. God bless.
Tinashe Zinyemba is a pastor with New Life Covenant Church. Feedback: [email protected]
