婚輔信息：關於新一代的男人 (Toward a New Breed of Men)
作者：丹尼斯雷尼 (Dennis Rainey)
原來我們不是顧念所見的，乃是顧念所不見的，因為所見的是暫時的，所不見的是永遠的。(哥林多後書 4:18)
為什麼《美國財星500強》雜誌，每年評選全美最大的500家公司，會支付這麼多的薪水，給他們的高層主管呢？因為他們知道，領導能力會帶來很大的影響。身為一個丈夫和父親，你的領導能力，也會帶給你的家庭，巨大的影響。喔！你的妻子和孩子，可能日復一日地活著，但他們朝向何處而去呢？他們正在成長而有基督的性格嗎？他們在關注真正重要的事情嗎？
毫無疑問的，有許多的婚姻和家庭，正陷入困境之中。太多的男人只是在盡物質供應者的功用。我們需要新一代的男人，他們能正確地評估和花費，精力與時間，並且—最重要的是—關注家庭生活的屬靈層面。
我們需要新一代的男人，他們能夠關注、顧念所不見的—那永恆的事物，以及顧到所見的事。他們能對賺取更多的金錢說不，當它意味著要犧牲家庭時。新一代的男人，在做每一個決定時，會問：“這個決定將會怎樣影響到我的家庭關係？”
我們需要新一代的男人，他們認識到，需要為後代留下，比財產還耐久的產業：被試驗過的品格. . .新一代的男人，他們了解到，在世人眼中獲得了成功，但在神的眼光中卻失敗，這是最終的失敗。
有人曾經說過：“在一個終將成功的事業上失敗，比在一個終將失敗的事業上成功還要好。”
你願意接受，愛因斯坦給一群年輕科學家的一個挑戰嗎？當他向這一群非常積極的年輕人演講時，他說到：“先生們，不要試著去成為成功的男人。然而，寧可試著去成為有價值的男人。”
討論：
你希望留給你的孩子，哪些物質的東西？你希望逐漸灌輸給他們，哪些獨特的屬靈價值？在這些“紀念品”中，哪些是更為重要的？
禱告：
想像你的孩子已長大，並且堅立在他們自己的家庭中。為他們每一位將成為什麼樣的人來代禱。
Marriage Devotional: Toward a New Breed of Men
Author: Dennis Rainey
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
Why do Fortune 500 companies pay such huge salaries to their top executives? Because they know that leadership makes a difference. As a husband and father, your leadership will make a difference in your family. Oh, your wife and children may survive from day to day, but are they heading anywhere? Are they growing in Christlike character? Are they focusing on what is important?
There is no question why so many marriages and families are in trouble. Too many men are functioning only as material providers. We need a new breed of men who can appreciate and expend energy, time and—most importantly—focused attention on the spiritual aspect of family life.
We need a new breed of men who have the ability to focus on the unseen—the eternal—as well as the seen. Men who will say no to more bucks when it means sacrificing their families. A new breed who will ask, with every decision they make: "How will this affect the relationships within my family?"
We need a new breed of men who will recognize they need to leave something to posterity that will outlive the financial inheritances they may leave for their children: proven character. . .a new breed of men who realize that to succeed in the eyes of men but fail in the eyes of God is the ultimate failure.
One man has said, "It is better to fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail."
Will you take upon yourself the challenge Albert Einstein gave a group of young scientists? While addressing this highly motivated group of young men, he said, "Gentlemen, try not to become men of success. But rather, try to become men of value."
Discuss:
What material things do you hope to leave to your children? What specific spiritual values do you hope to instill in them? Which of these "keepsakes" is more important?
Pray:
Imagine your children as grown and established in their own families. Pray for what each one will become.
