There is a lot of talk about “the Manosphere” on the internet. These are podcasts, YouTube channels, and other social media outlets where certain personalities give young men life advice.
These influencers have received backlash for allegedly teaching misogyny and toxic masculinity. For some of these bloggers, this is wildly exaggerated. They are cancelled for simply suggesting that young men are not all evil. However, many Manosphere gurus are guilty as charged. Instead of teaching young men how to be godly, virtuous and sober, they encourage drunkenness, materialism and fornication.
Many teenagers and college-age men have no direction in their lives. There is a large, loud section of the public discourse that tells them they do not deserve to be heard or cared about. So, they are looking for someone, anyone to give them some hope. Our young men must learn that the only place they need to go for hope and direction is the Word of God. The Lord cares for our young men and has a holy purpose for them.
The Bible is filled with direction for our lives. In 1 Kings 2:1-4, days before his death, King David left his son, Solomon, with a command. David said, “…prove yourself a man” (v. 2). Who was David to give such advice? Well, he was a shepherd, a warrior, and he was a poet. But, more importantly, he was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). A young man shouldn’t aspire to be just any kind of man. The best a man can be is when he reflects the heart of his Creator. So, what does this kind of man say we should be?
First, you must be strong (v. 2a). David demonstrated physical strength in his life. However, he relied on the strength of Almighty God. When faced with Goliath, David declared that it was the Lord, who would deliver him from the hand of the Philistine (cf. 1 Sam. 17:37). True strength is confidence in God.
Second, you must keep the charge of the Lord (v. 3a). God has given every man the greatest purpose in the world: to make disciples of the nations (cf. Matt. 28:18-20). What better direction could your life have than one that leads others to eternal life?
Third, you must walk in the commands of God (v. 3b). There is no lasting glory in filling your life with possessions or lust. As David learned, they will be your undoing (cf. 2 Sam. 12). As Jesus tells us, “…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt. 6:20).
The world can’t tell you what a man is supposed to be. Only the God who created you can. Trust His Word.