"Real Greatness" Part 1: Moral Nature
“The superior man is he who develops, in harmonious proportions, his moral, intellectual and physical nature. This should be the end at which men of all classes should aim, and it is this only which constitutes real greatness.
– Douglas Jerrold”
If you’re taking the time to read this, there is something inside you that desires to be the man you are meant to be...to pursue “real greatness” as a man. Douglas Jerrold gives us a heart-wrenchingly blunt declaration of where our focus should be in our efforts to become better men. We’ll break down his definition into three separate articles. Here we’ll discuss…
Moral Nature.
How do you define moral? Who determines what is moral vs. immoral? As a man, what defines your morality? Arena of Man believes true morality and the clearest picture of how men should live are found within the pages of the Bible; specifically the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as described in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the first four books of the New Testament. Jesus demonstrates a morality marked by selflessness, service, sacrifice, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love. He protects the weak. He stands for what is right, and He stands against what is wrong. Whether you would call yourself a Christian or have never stepped foot inside a local church, it’s hard to argue that improvement in these areas would not benefit us individually as men and as a society.
How does a man aim to develop his moral nature?
Begin by making an honest personal assessment of your morality. Are you cheating in any arena? (i.e. business, marriage, family, friendships)
Invite your wife or a trusted friend to be brutally honest about what they see in how you live. Take seriously their assessment, and look for steps you can take to make changes where needed.
Look for opportunities to serve others and place their needs before your own. This is very easily done at home for you married guys. (Watch her show/movie instead of Die Hard for the 462nd time. Wash the dishes after dinner. Fold the towels. Heck, pick up the towel you left in the middle of the bedroom floor this morning when you got out of the shower. Baby steps!)
Read one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) in the Bible and observe the life of Jesus and how He lived, then seek to put into practice what you find there.
How about you? What has shaped your “moral nature” in your pursuit of real greatness as a man? What steps do you need to take to sharpen this aspect of your character? Who can you invite into this journey with you?
Join the discussion by adding your comments below…
In the arena with you,
Andy