This is how you will find out if you are a real man

 "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just" (Proverbs 13:22).

I am a student of my heavenly father. I not only want to be a good father by His example, but I also want to be as good man as he is. Jesus' example to men is by far the best example that anyone could follow. God as the father through Jesus died for us, his children. A genuine man would die for his children and His friends. Without hesitation, he would suffer as Jesus suffered for us. If it meant that my children would not have to live with pain and sickness as I have seen in this world, I would suffer the same beating that Christ suffered at the whipping post. Why, because a real man would do that for His children to succeed.

We live in a world that does not understand or appreciate good men. In fact, we elect men of questionable character into public offices every five years. Men who have destroyed our youth and have made parents live in agony of their sons and daughters getting lost in drugs and substance abuse. These are the ones we consider our heroes. And at each turn, they take this country farther and farther away from the virtuous values that our great country was founded upon.

Where are the good men? Where are the fellows who would rise up and say, "Follow Me!", and be someone worth following? Where are the great leaders of public office and church leaders who would lead us to righteousness and truth? Have we come so far in the wrong direction, that there is no way to return to our God given roles as fathers and men? It used to be that men were chosen to public office because of their good character. Now, he is chosen by the personal profit the voter would receive by his being elected. Political campaigns are no longer public endorsements of a man's good character and ability to lead, but now they are advertisements telling voters what they will gain personally if the man is elected. Who cares if the man is of extremely questionable character, as long as taxes go down and gross pay goes up?

I want to be a good man. In my old age, I want to be the honorable Patriarch of my children's children. When they need Godly advice, I pray that my life would be of such example that they would consider my counsel valuable. Proverbs 13:22 is speaking of more than financial wealth. I believe it is speaking of the example a good man would give to his children. I spent most of my youthful life making decisions and choices that were incorrect, because no good example was given to me as a child. My point of reference in life has had no true bearing. My life has not had the advantage of a righteous father's influence. Admittedly, I have envied the fellows around me whose fathers were present for them and were godly men. I wonder how my life might have been different if I could have had such good influence. At the same time, I am so very thankful that my own children could have the influence of a Godly father. They are such precious souls, and I pray that my example to them would somehow affect my family into the next generation. My prayer is that they would become a better people than me, so that their influence would touch the lives of my great grandchildren.

"Be a good man." What a high calling. What an honorable place. Many families would still be together if men would have understood what it meant to "be a good man". "Don’t just be a man, but be a good man!  “Don’t just be a woman, but be a good woman!”