Raising boys to become real men requires a lot of time and hard work. It doesn’t happen by accident! It requires the father to step up to the plate and lead by example. Fathers must be intentional about it.
Fathers, we only have eighteen years! After that, we have to let go of our boys and pray that, by God’s grace, they become real, hardworking, devoted men.
Just think… your hard work will impact generations to come. It’s worth your time. It’s worth your effort. Those who go at it flippantly will, at some point, pay a hefty price. But those who are truly intentional about it will reap endless rewards.
Teach Them to Know and Love God
Start by helping your boys build a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray with them. Read the Bible together. Let them see that your walk with the Lord is real and daily.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
Model What a Godly Man Looks Like
Boys learn more by watching than by listening. Show them what it looks like to be a man of honesty, humility, faithfulness, and love. Let them see how you treat your wife, how you handle problems, and how you serve others.
Teach Responsibility and Hard Work
Give them jobs around the house. Let them work with their hands. Help them see that hard work, even when it’s not fun, builds character.
“If any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
Discipline in Love
Boys need correction, but they also need love. Don’t just punish bad behavior; teach them why something is wrong.
Teach Courage and Boldness
The world wants to make boys weak and confused. But God made them to be strong. Teach them to stand for truth, even when it’s hard. Encourage them to be leaders, not followers.
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
Talk Openly About Life
Have open conversations about real-life things. Talk to them about purity, respect, money, girls, anger, fears, and God’s purpose. Don’t let the world be louder than you are in their lives.
P.S. I recently heard an older man tell a young one, “Stop looking for a girlfriend. Look for a wife.”
Call Out Their Identity
Let them know often: “You are a child of God. You are loved. You were made for more.” When they know who they are in Christ, they’ll be better prepared to become men who live for His glory.
This world needs men – real, hardworking, devoted, faithful men.
• God needs real men.
• Families need real men.
• Churches need real men.
• Communities need real men.
• Our world desperately needs real men.
Thank you to all the fathers who go the extra mile for their sons. You are gems!