1 Chronicles 5:18
"The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war."
One of the greatest needs of our day is for men to be men.
When I was a boy growing up you didn't have to apologize for being a man. Since those days as a youth, there has been an all-out attack against masculinity. The feminists groups have tried to portray men as sissies, Hollywood has portrayed men as aloof and ignorant and many young men have simply fallen into the mold of what these groups have pushed leading us into a society where it's hard to find real men.
The verse above shows us that there were true men in those days. These men were not just males, but they were men who were valiant. Just because someone is a male does not make them a real man. God shows us several things about these men that made them valiant men.
First, you will notice they were balanced. Notice that they could bear the buckler and sword, but they could also shoot the bow. Other verses show us these men were capable of doing more than one thing. A real man is going to learn to be balanced in life. You may be tough and know how to be an outdoorsman, but you also need to be gentle and know how to care for your children and your wife. Valiant men are balanced individuals who are capable of doing many different things.
Second, these men were willing to fight for right. This is one of the greatest areas in which men lack today. We live in a society where everyone just wants to get along, even to the point that they will sacrifice truth for peace. Men must be willing to stand up and fight for right. Men should not be passive as truth is attacked. Real men don't let their wife handle the tough situations, but they handle the tough situations themselves.
Third, these men were godly. Verse 20 shows us that they called upon God in the battle. True men are involved in serving the LORD. I'm all for a man knowing how to handle himself in the world, but he should also be able to lead spiritually in the home. Being a great outdoorsman may make you a bit rugged, but being godly will make you into a man. Valiant men will know how to handle themselves in worldly affairs, but will also have a close walk with God and are not afraid to call on Him in times of need.
Fourth, these valiant men were the leaders in their home. Verse 24 says, "...mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers." Notice, they were the ones in charge of their homes. True men don't make their wife lead in the home; they lead. Let me go a little further and say that true men don't rely on their wife to pay the bills, but they make sure they carry the financial needs of the family.
If there is an area where we need a revival, it is in the area of manhood. Every man should take this devotional and let it motivate them to become a valiant man. Every parent needs to train their boys how to become valiant men. A nation is only as strong as its men. Likewise, a church where men are leading is a strong church, and a home where the man is a true man is a home where there is the security and strength God intended.