This will be a relatively short blog, at least compared to the last one. It wasn’t even the one I had planned on writing when I sat down at the keyboard. But in the past few weeks, there has been a question plastered on the walls of my mind.
What is a gentleman? Is it the guy who will hold the door for everyone? The man who will lay his jacket over a puddle in the crosswalk? Is it the man who never swears, especially around kids? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives several definitions:
a: a man of noble or gentle birth
b: a man belonging to the landed gentry
c: (1) : a man who combines gentle birth or rank with chivalrous qualities (2) : a man whose conduct conforms to a high standard of propriety or correct behavior
d: (1) : a man of independent means who does not engage in any occupation or profession for gain (2) : a man who does not engage in a menial occupation or in manual labor for gain
The first two in this day and age obviously don’t apply. And perhaps the last one as well. Letter c is the one we think of when we hear the word “gentleman”. And it is something that many men try to do on a regular basis. But that is man’s definition. Man’s attempt at chivalry.
God want us to be much more than just mere gentleman. He calls us to me like Christ, the ultimate gentlemanly figure. I wear a ring on my right hand. It says, “Man of God – 1 Timothy 6:11.” It is a constant reminder to me, of what God calls for in a Christian man.
“11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
This is what I need to strive to be. God doesn’t ask us to be perfect. Paul doesn’t say “Be righteous, godly, faithful, loving, steadfast, and gentle.” We don’t need to be perfect. Christ’s death on the cross ensured that. We… I… need to pursue the characteristics of THE gentleman, Jesus Christ.
