Here is the one entry on the summer reading plan that is geared just for men. So, men, if you are only going to read one book on this list, make it this one! I mean, seriously, the subtitle of this book is “Every man’s destiny, every woman’s dream.” Let’s consider that statement for just a minute. Single men: gear up to be the man you wife needs you to be. Married men: suit up as the man your wife deserves. Every man: in Christ, you are called to something greater!
Ladies, there are a couple of options for meaningful spiritual growth here. First, I encourage you to read this book to know how to pray for your husband. One of the most important things wives can do is to pray for their husband to demonstrate godliness. This is not a license to read a book and begin fault finding who your husband is not. Second, I encourage you to take time with your sons or grandsons, if you have them, and help instill these values in their lives. You can be a Lois or Eunice of 2 Timothy 1 in a very real way here. Third, take time with unmarried women who have a strong desire for marriage to walk with them toward a godly man. This focus on singleness can heal a lot of unobserved wounds and fill some unspoken cravings for fulfillment in that relationship just by being a godly woman. Fourth, read this book with your husband and then take a younger couple under your wing and read through it with them. Your wisdom and insight as an experienced couple will speak volumes into their lives.
Kingdom Man by Tony Evans simply builds on the observed fact that we have lowered the standard for men in our culture. If you have ever read some of Tony’s work or listened to his daily radio broadcast, you are aware that he is an extremely gifted preacher and illustrator of words. He illustrates his premise this way:
“My son Jonathan is a big guy. In the NFL, he’s taken downs with some of the best player. He can hold his own. But he wasn’t always that big. One time I remember him running up to my office at the church asking me to come down to the gym and watch his five-foot-three frame dunk the basketball. He had been practicing for months.
Once I got there, Jonathan grabbed the ball, dribbled, and dunked. I offered only abbreviated congratulations. Then I turned to the athletic director and pointedly told him to raise the basket back up to where it belonged. Impatient to grow taller, Jonathan had lowered the goal.
‘Raise the basket, Jonathan,’ I said. ‘And try again.’
He did. And he didn’t make it. But he kept trying—and, in time, he made it.
Men, God has a standard. He has a goal. His kingdom is that goal. Yet what o many have done is lowered His standard only to then congratulate themselves for being able to dunk the ball. The results of this lowered standard, though, affect so many more than just the man on the court. A lowered standard affects us all. It shows up in our country. In our culture. In the economics of our world. It doesn’t take much more than a cursory glance around our homes, churches, communities, and globe to uncover that men—not all, but many—have missed the goal to live as a kingdom man.”[1]
That is a longer quote than I typically want to use, but it goes far to demonstrate the point: we have lowered the goal as a society. God has not! The rest of this book works us through example after example of Scripture and modern day scenarios where our men must step up. The problem lies within us. “One of the reasons why we have so many ineffective Christian men in our nation today is because men are waiting for something to happen before they will do what they can do where they are.”[2] Too often this is an excuse not to act rather than a reason to do what God placed us here to accomplish. This can be remedied! It starts with our choice to be faithful. As Tony Evans states, “No one will force you to step up to your calling…it’s your choice.”[3]
Ultimately, this book directs men to living with a full purpose. One of the great appreciations I have for this book above others is the way that Tony Evans saturates his examples and undergirds his premise with Scripture. From the mandate to Adam in Genesis 1 to “let them rule”[4] to Abraham’s obedience in Genesis 22[5], David’s defeat of Goliath[6] to Joshua succeeding Moses in Joshua 1[7], Tony Evans traces the biblical narrative of how men of God did accomplish great things. It is this standard that supplies men the authority to accomplish great things today no matter what station of life we may find ourselves occupying.
The rule that God established for Adam and Eve in Genesis 1 was to rule and have dominion over the earth. This life of purpose that Tony Evans describes for us as men looks a lot different than what the world promotes. We have lost our sense and responsibility of dominion because we have confused God’s design for dominion in this world. “The problem facing many men today in connection with the dominion mandate is their understanding of what kingdom success really is. A misunderstanding of success will lead a man to name things illegitimately or keep a man from advancing in the realm and direction that God has for him. People define success in multiple ways. Some people will define it as prominence or holding a high position. Others define it as financial gain. Still others define it as relationships and the achievements within their families. Yet I know, and you probably do too, a number of miserable people in high positions with what the world considers functioning families and large bank accounts…[Kingdom] success has to do with fulfilling the reason why you were both born and born again. It involves living out your ordained reason for being for God’s glory, your good, and the benefit of others. Success means fulfilling your destiny.”[8]
As you take time to read this book, consider what goals you have set for yourself in light of God’s design for us to exercise His authority in the land. Consider how being a man directed by God’s kingdom agenda sets you apart from life as usual.
You can find this book on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yde5ht4e
[1] Tony Evans, Kingdom Man: Every Man’s Destiny, Every Woman’s Dream (Carroll Stream, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2012), 2.
[2] Evans, 47.
[3] Evans, 55.
[4] Evans, 88.
[5] Evans, 97.
[6] Evans, 94-96.
[7] Evans, 130-132.
[8] Evans, 115-16.