Men primarily remember King David for two acts in his life. One, for slaying the giant Goliath, whom everyone else was afraid of. Two, for his adulterous relationship with the beautiful Bathsheba. Though these two events are often recalled in men’s ministries and are often highlighted in recounts of King David’s life, Christ isn’t recorded mentioning either of these two events, nor are they mentioned in any of the letters of the New Testament. Why do men glory in those aspects of David? It is because most men struggle to understand the calling of manhood, and as a result of this, they adopt the consensus view. The popular view, often adopted for the safety of the crowd, has been authored by the devil. In order to steal the glory of GOD from men, the devil offers them a counterfeit. Understand, the devil is a counterfeit dealer. This is how people get destroyed for a lack of knowledge; because they lack knowledge of what is genuine and true.
In this case, men lack knowledge of the true image of GOD. This is relevant because men were created to live in GOD’s image. A lack of knowledge is also why religious men are perplexed at the idea of King David being a man after GOD’s own heart. After all, King David committed murder and adultery. Too often, religious men don’t know the heart of GOD. This is a result of men seeking GOD’s benefits more than His laws and precepts; just like the multitudes sought the loaves of YEHSUA more than His words. GOD’s word’s, laws, and precepts reveal His heart and mind. Due to men having accepted the counterfeit manhood offered by the devil, we find ourselves in a world filled with a lust for power and external beauty. This post is not about “The Godfather” as much as it is a look at why so many men embrace what he embodied. There is also significant admiration for the character Tony Montana in the movie “Scarface”.
If you look across the spectrum of men, to include the religious and non-religious, you will find that the majority of men view success as the accumulation of wealth, power, and external beauty. In the non-religious sector, you will see the picture of success being the billionaire maverick with his power and trappings. In the religious sector you will find the picture of success attributed to the pastor with the mega-church and large campus. Some in the religious arena have gone as far as to conform the testimony of Christ, saying He was rich with the goods of this world, and had many wives. The lies of the devil are so infused into this world that it is like a strong current sweeping all away. This is no doubt why YAHWEH sent salvation as an anchor of truth, a rock, and a firm foundation, on which we have been called to build our identities, our values, and our lives.
“Let us look at the first example of the man whose identity is tied to his money. What happens to this man when his business fails due to a change in the market? He becomes laden with insecurity as a man. A man afflicted with insecurity will often project those feeling on others by assuming that others think less of him. What will this man do to maintain his financial prowess? Almost anything! Many men have had their consciences seared in the pursuit of financial riches, or trying to maintain financial wealth. Whatever controls your identity has mastery over you.
If you derive your sense of self-worth and identity from temporal things, you will never be a sound, stable person. For a man to make a good husband or father, he must be a stable person; this means his identity and values must have a firm foundation.”
The quotation above was taken from chapter 7 of my book, “True Heritage: Recovering From Spiritual Identity Theft ” There is a chapter entitled, “The Firm Foundation.” In this chapter I write about the problems men and women face when their identities aren’t anchored in the Truth of GOD, and the benefits reaped from a life securely resting in GOD’s hands.
To obtain this salvation we must be willing to release all the false things we have come to be identified with. This step toward salvation is the one which causes so many to draw back. Some have deceived themselves into thinking they have taken this necessary step; however, it is obvious they are still adrift in the currents of the world by their fears and lust and conversation.
Men often extol King David however Christ says there has been none born of flesh greater than John the Baptist. Men do not have much affection toward living in the wilderness dressed in camel’s hair with a diet of locust and honey. The carnal mind will cause you to see those components of John’s life instead of the anointing, the holiness, and favor from GOD. Much in the same way the carnal mind misses King’s David abandon to GOD, and his soul wrenching transparency, and his burning thirst for truth. David wanted to be GOD’s man, nothing more or nothing less.
If we are ever to be fulfilled, mature, and the people we were ordained to be, we must learn to take our hunger, thirst, and questions to GOD in humility. We must be ready to center ourselves in the truth of GOD and put our faith in Him, no matter the calculated cost. No matter how we see the cost, we must also understand we do not have the mathematics or expressions to fully quantify the rewards of trusting GOD. The things of creation were never meant to totally satisfy you because they were given as trinkets to draw us unto the Creator. Creation gives moments of satisfaction however communion with the Creator Himself is everlasting peace and joy.
When the things of this world are folded up and put away, like a completed game of monopoly, only those willing to become as bankrupt to the world, living in spirit and truth to gain Christ, will be considered the true winners.
theinscribedheart 
Good word. I used to hear people say someone has “fell off” almost as if though they were saying they were not relevant in any way because they no longer had, or did what they were recognized for. I often felt like the person saying that had limited access to that person and had no idea who that person really was, or where they were. If we listen to those assertions we can fall off and become frigid in our walk and feel incapable of effective action. The key is understanding what effective is, and by who’s translation you apply it. Yeshua never fails us and has made provision for continuous growth, he is faithful to complete the work he has started in you. He can’t fall off so neither will you if you walk in him, he always has need and application for MEN OF GOD, MEN OF VALOUR, and MEN OF FAITH.
Very encouraging! Thanks for affirming that we will always be as relevant as we need to be as long as we are following our Savior, and the world doesn’t define our relevance.