The Measure of a Man
any are familiar with sayings similar to, “It is not what a man does that measures his worth, but what he is.” And on several levels, that is true. However, Jesus also said that we would know people by “their fruit”. Fruit can be what a person is, but it also often manifests in what they do. So, what a man does really can be important in measuring his worth, right?
Barb, blogging at A Former Leader, wrote a post called “Husband Replacement“. While the major gist of the post is not what I’m trying to blog about here, she wrote a few sentences that I find really pertinent to this question about how we measure spirituality and “leadership”.
I measured [my husband] Marshall for so many years by a measuring stick that was skewed. On one stick was all the things that I thought made you a good Christian – things like being faithful to daily Bible reading, memorizing, journaling, church attendance and fulfilling all the expectations of the leader of whatever church we were in. On the other stick – (God’s stick, btw) – were things like faithfulness, kindness, loving the unlovely, willingness to help me and others, love for his kids, the ability to laugh with those who laugh and weep with those who weep. If I were to have used the right stick he was head and shoulders above any one I knew.
How often do we judge leaders (or just any Christian) based on their faithfulness to the checklist? You know the checklist I’m talking about. All those things we have been taught indicate that we’re a “good Christian”. We honor church attendance, scripture memorization, etc. Yet how often do we look at the relationships people have? How often do we look at how their heart is displayed in their life?
To paraphrase Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, you can memorize scripture, journal diligently, attend anytime the church doors are opened, etc., but if you don’t have love (or, I would add, any of the other fruit of the Spirit), it is completely worthless.
I think this goes along with a post that Alan Knox recently reposted regarding the story we usually call “the good Samaritan”. The one who didn’t have his theology “correct” becomes the hero of the story. He becomes the one Jesus offers as the model to follow. Why? Because he lived it out.
Until next time,
steve 
November 10th, 2008 18:14
Welcome back, Steve!
All too often, we seem to want a set of rules to keep and activities to do rather than a relationship with the God who created us. I’m afraid we think the rules and activity will be less demanding, and then we can spend the rest of our time any way we want. We really try to keep God at arm’s length, rather than let Him get close–He might want more of us than we are willing to give! C.S. Lewis wrote something similar in another context (this is from memory, so it may not be 100% exact): “We are such half-hearted creatures, pottering about with alcohol and sex, when eternal joy is offered us.”
November 10th, 2008 20:47
Nice post Steve. Interesting that we often judge folks by orthodoxy and activities rather than spiritual fruit.
November 11th, 2008 02:54
Well said Steve. I think too many of our brothers are not appreciated for the strong Christian men that they are because they don’t always fit the stereotypical deacon checklist.We’ve often laughed that my husband’s spiritual gift is roadside assistance. He’s not the one who would volunteer to teach a Sunday School class, but he’s the one who’ll stop to help someone with car trouble or help an old lady load her groceries in her car.
I wonder how many men live their lives frustrated and feeling like they don’t “measure up” simply because people are measuring them with the wrong measuring stick.
November 12th, 2008 18:34
I love this post. beautifully said!
Please tell your beautiful family hello for me. I hope you guys are all doing well!
: )