FROM THE DAWGHOUSE…
Biblical Manhood Begins with Purpose
As Pastor Pete shared with us at Forge this week, one of the five marks of biblical manhood is PURPOSE. Few questions are more foundational for a man than these:
- Who am I?
- Why am I here?
When those questions go unanswered, or are answered poorly, confusion fills the vacuum. And confusion almost always leads to compromise, frustration, and failure. Simply put, if we don’t start well, it’s unlikely we’ll finish well.
Scripture is clear about man’s chief and highest purpose: to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Paul says it plainly: “For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever!” (Romans 11:36). Again, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Purpose is not something we invent; it is something we receive.
The problem is not that men lack ambition. The problem is that many men are aiming at the wrong target. Culture defines purpose in terms of success, status, wealth, sexual fulfillment, or personal freedom. Scripture defines purpose in terms of faithfulness, obedience, and God’s glory. When those definitions collide, men are forced to choose which voice they will trust.
From the beginning, God gave man purpose. In Genesis 1:28, Adam is called to steward creation. To cultivate, protect, and lead under God’s authority. That calling was never revoked, though it was deeply fractured by sin. Psalm 73 reminds us where true purpose is restored: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26).
As Pastor Pete shared, purpose is not found by looking inward, but upward.
In Christ, purpose becomes clearer, not narrower. A man’s identity is no longer rooted in what he achieves, but in who he belongs to. Through the gospel, we learn that we are sons before we are servants. Only then can we serve rightly. Ephesians 5:22-29 shows this restored purpose played out practically, especially in marriage. A man is called to love sacrificially, lead humbly, and reflect Christ’s love for the Church. That kind of leadership does not flow from ego, but from identity in Christ.
So how do the men of Forge become men of purpose?
- First, we submit our life to Christ. Purpose begins at the cross, where false identities die and new life begins.
- Second, we root ourselves in Scripture, allowing God, not culture, to define success and masculinity.
- Third, we embrace responsibility, not as a burden, but as a calling. Biblical purpose always moves outward in service, to family, church, and world.
- Finally, we walk in daily dependence on God, knowing that purpose is sustained not by willpower, but by grace.
A man who understands his purpose is not perfect, but he is anchored. He knows who he is, why he’s here, and who he ultimately answers to. And that kind of man, by God’s grace, is able to stand.
Joe Bouch
