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Over my years working with men and studying education and career pathways of both genders, I have noted five roles that a man is uniquely made to offer his gift of masculinity to a world begging to experience the full weight of who God created him to be.

o Men and women are not the same. Yes, both are equally loved by God and His salvation through Jesus; however, that Creator uniquely crafts us to reflect various aspects of His nature and provide distinct types of good in the world. The diversity that God has handcrafted in each of us is beautiful and does not need to be manufactured, counterfeited, or replaced. Over my years working with men and studying educa tion and career pathways of both genders, I have noted five roles that a man is uniquely made to offer his gift of masculinity to a world begging to experience the full weight of who God created him to be. In a world where 58% of college graduates are now women, 5 never before have women had the opportunity to choose whatever career they desire. Both men and women continue to choose career paths based on who God inherently created them to be. The following are five empirical ways God designs men to offer their masculine gift to the world. 1. The Protector: A People to Defend. Men are made to defend those they love. They are designed for physical action. Look at the average man—he typically carries less body fat, is taller, heavier, and has more muscle than his female counterpart. The Bible acknowledges these physical differences when admonishing husbands to “… live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel…” (1 Peter 3:7, ESV). God uniquely enabled men to: “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” and “Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:3-4, NIV). Man is made to jump into action. His body is designed to function as a wall for those he loves. 2. The Adventurer: A Dream to Pursue. Men consistently opt into the physically demanding and action-oriented roles in society. According to Zippia, 93.8% of U.S. construction workers are men, 6 77.5% are U.S. soldiers, 7 81.9% are U.S. firefighters, 8 and 83.2% of U.S. police officers are men. 9 These differences begin

in childhood, with boys preferring more active, outdoor oriented play that includes competition and aggression. We see this in biblical heroes who set out for distant lands, taking families and herds with them—from Abra ham to Moses to Jesus to Paul. God started movements by placing a dream in the heart of a man, often one that required physical endurance and sacrifice. 3. The Provider: A Tribe to Lead. Men are wired to provide. In more than half of marriages today (55%), the husband is the primary breadwinner, whereas in 29% of cases, both partners earn the same. 10 In my book DIALED IN , I unpack Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 3:4-5 and the concept of provision when speaking of a man who “manages” his household well, transliterating the Greek word, proistemi , which means to provide, preside, and protect. A man’s role as a pro vider implies both management of, and provision for, the family’s needs, both tangible (the heart) and intangible (physical needs). 4. The Sacrificer: A Hill to Die On. History decisively proves a point. Did you know that of the 58,220 casualties of the Vietnam War, 58,212 were men? 11 In fact, 98% of all U.S. military troops who have died in war have been men. 12 Looking at the Titanic tragedy, which was portrayed in the fictional movie of the same name, Hollywood left out a critical detail. The film failed to note that out of the 1,517 souls that died that night, an overwhelming 1,349 were men. 13 Why? Men went down with the ship to sacri fice for those they loved. Who steps up when it is time to die? Men. The bigger question is, “Why?” The answer is that God baked the desire to do so into the masculine heart. God made men to gladly die on a hill that they care deeply about—to fall on the sword. The Bible lauds this sacrifice in John 15:13 (NASB 1995), “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” A man’s desire to sacrifice for his loved ones reflects the sacrifice of our Savior on the cross.

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christian counseling today VOL. 28 NO. 1