Men are fitted as HUSBANDMEN, tilling the earth.

Where does the term husbandmen come from?  It is a farming term.  It is one who tills the land.  A husbandman gets his hands dirty and works the earth to make something of it. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15)

Man was created, not only to conquer new worlds, but to make those worlds grow and flourish.  If being a man stopped at being lords and dominioneers we would simply be pirates or marauders.  But God called us also to settle the earth—to settle gardens, families, and towns—to tend and keep it.

One of my favorite things to do is to putter in the yard.  It’s almost therapeutic.  I love to make my yard look beautiful.  I like to make my plants grow strong and healthy.  I haven’t been so successful yet in the southern Sahara desert, but give me a few years and I will.

Some of the best gardeners are men.  It’s in a mans blood to till and cultivate; to work hard.

Cain is identified as the first farmer (Genesis 4:2). A tiller or farmers is closely associated with God in Scripture, since it is God who works closely with him in producing the crops.  So it is with domain God gives you.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mk. 4:26-29) And, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  (Mt. 9:37-38)

Jesus teaches us that God produces the success. Us men are simply called to work the field–to keep it and to tend it.

DISCUSS:

• How is a farmer or tiller a fitting example of biblical masculinity?  
• What are characteristics of a good husbandman, farmer or gardener? (patient, careful, hard-working; trust God for results) 
• What terrains or domains does God place men to till? 
• What does that tilling look like from day to day or season to season?

REVIEW: 5 Aspects of Biblical Masculinity

1. lords of the earth
2. tillers tending the earth
3. saviors delivering from evil
4. sages seeking wisdom
5. bold and brave image-bearers