Whether you’re a pastor, business owner, coffee shop manager, or a man leading a men’s group, the following is true: You must build on faithfulness.
Too often, leaders look for the one with the great talent, great ability. We say, “Man, this guy could be awesome.” But then we’re disappointed when he proves unfaithful.
The talented salesperson doesn’t stay committed. The eager college graduate doesn’t keep his word. The one with experience doesn’t show up when he said he would show up. He may have talent, but has no character.
In ministry to men, we must build on faithful men.
Paul taught this. His young protégé, Timothy, was raised by a mother and grandmother. He needed the mentoring of a strong man. Paul told Timothy not to let others put him down because he was young. Repeatedly, Paul encouraged Timothy by saying in essence, “You can do this.” It was the love of a father for his son—a spiritual truth that builds men.
Then, in 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul taught Timothy a truth that is foundational for you and me. He essentially said, “Timothy, the words I’ve given you, give these to faithful men.”
God is not looking for men of great talent and great ability. He’s looking for men who will be faithful. Out of their faithfulness will come the ability, and the gifts God has given them will become apparent.
Their talent will rise from the foundation of character.
A pastor friend in a small community discipled men to be faithful, then empowered his men to follow the Majoring in Men MoMENtum Guide . As a result, they grew their annual men’s conference from 40 to 350 within four years. Many unchurched men became followers of Christ.
That’s what happens when we disciple men to be faithful.
The fact is, we can’t fully disciple men from the pulpit. But in building a strong ministry to men, we can choose faithful men and empower them to start a process that creates disciples of other men, which brings in more men. Strong men attract strong men.
A friend with a large church realized he was seeing converts come to Christ, but the men weren’t necessarily becoming disciples. He decided to invest his personal time in his men for 13 weeks, every Saturday morning for 90 minutes. He discipled his men by going through the book Maximized Manhood, one step at a time, imprinting it with his personal stories, life messages—his spiritual DNA. He’d point to what was important to him personally and instruct his men, “Here’s how to do this, and here’s this, and this.”
After 13 weeks, he invested himself in the champions that he had raised up. He empowered them, saying, “Okay, now you go do the same thing.” Those faithful men took their annual event and ballooned it to host over 2,000 people.
Why? The core of the church became discipling men. Strong men make strong families, and strong families make strong churches. Strong churches reach people.
The critically important key starts with this: Faithfulness is the evidence of a man committed to Godly character.
