STAND UP, MAN This is for the Men of God who are out there reading this impartation, I guess it can be for the women also that they might bring their husbands, and or boy friends to read this. It might cause them to look at their places more intensely. I want to start out by introducing you to a few Stand Up Men and then go into what a Stand Up Man should be like. Now, I want to warn you all that this is not my opinion, it is straight from the Word of God. Be a Berean as You read this post. PLEASE!
GENESIS 5:21-24 And Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch WALKED WITH GOD THREE HUNDRED YEARS After he became the father of Methuselah, and he had Other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch WALKED WITH GOD; and he was not, for God took him.
GENESIS 5:28-9:1
Was a STAND UP MAN.
Can we mention Abram and his story, that would take some time to discuss, and Joseph, how they were STAND UP MEN. There are many stories through the Bible of stand up men that I could write about here, but there is one in particular that I hear very little preaching or teaching on. During my time at the Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas I had the privilege of portraying this STAND UP MAN and I know that he needs to be talked about just like all the others. If it were not for his story I personally don’t think the events that took place after him would not have been.
This particular man was a wealthy man, he owned much land for the time period of his existence, he had many laborers that he employed, he was a productive man and people knew him. Now he could have been the type who only considered himself and left the others in the dust, but I don’t see him as this kind of man. In fact I see him as a generous man, a STAND UP MAN.
There were two women one of whom had recently lost her husband, and the other woman was her Daughter-in-Law who also had lost her husband. In these days women could not own land or any real property, and so these two women could have lost everything had it not been for a STAND UP MAN. The Daughter-in-Law made the decision that she was going to stay with her Mother-in-Law and care for her in any manner that she could, due to her being older and without a husband.
So, the two women moved from where they were back to the Mother-in-Laws home land where she had a home to live in. The Daughter-in-Law decided she was going to have to go to work and earn some wages to buy food for the two. She ended up gleaning in the fields, whatever fell to the ground she would pick up for her and her Mother-in-Law that they might have food to eat. HENCE the owner of the fields saw this young maiden and took favor on her. He informed the other laborers to leave extra grain on the ground and told her to glean all she could. Well, the story doesn’t end there, in fact it is just the beginning. Allow me to introduce to you this STAND UP MAN, his name was BOAZ. Boaz means “quickness: strength.” Boaz in scripture is known as “A KINSMAN REDEEMER”. He could have shut Ruth down, he could have sent her packing from his fields, he could have denied her entrance; but instead he welcomed her with open arms.
Now Ruth and Boaz’s stories do not end here. In fact it gets pretty deep into their lives. Boaz, to me, is a pre-cursor to Christ Jesus; who later becomes the “KINSMAN REDEEMER” for all mankind who seek Him. Look at Ruth 2:14 what kind of man this Boaz was: RUTH 2:14 And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here, That you may eat of the bread and dip your Piece of bread in the vinegar.’ So she sat Beside the reapers; and HE SERVED HER Roasted grain, and she ate and was Satisfied and had some left.
Boaz went on to tell the reapers to “ purposely leave grain for her.” I guess you could honestly say that maybe Boaz took a liking to Ruth; You think? Boaz knew the law, he knew that there was a relative that was closer to Naomi then he was and so he informed Ruth that it was that relative who had the first right to choose if he wanted to take on the extra responsibility of Ruth and Naomi together along with his family. This STAND UP MAN gave another the opportunity to do the right thing, and he informed Ruth of all of it the way it was to go. RUTH 4:7 & 8 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel Concerning the redemption and the exchange of land To confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal And gave it to another; and this was the manner Of attestation in Israel. So the closest relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed His sandal. Here you have heard of a STAND UP MAN, one who made a difference in many lives, one who did the right thing. I for one don’t know if I could take on another man’s family like that, but he did. I am not writing this to encourage any man to do this, but I am attempting to bring to the attention of men that they look into this story and the lives that were changed because of a STAND UP MAN!
What can we do, what can You do to make differences in other peoples lives? I don’t mean Preach and Teach, I mean living the kind of life that Boaz lived; doing the right thing. Is there someone who needs a helping hand UP? Is there something that can be done to Bless another? Is there something you can do that has not been done as of yet? Become a STAND UP MAN in your area of expertise. Do the RIGHT THING!
PRAY THIS PRAYER Lord God, lead me to the Rock that is Higher than I. Teach me Humility and Right of purpose, guide me To the ways that You have ordained for me to go. Help me to become a STAND UP MAN! I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ AMEN