Why Being a "Good Guy" Isn't Enough

I never know what to call my friends that happen to be males…Guy friends? Man friends? Anyways, several months ago one of the guys that I hang out with that really is  just a friend, offered a small revelation: boys are dumb. That’s right, a male told me that boys are dumb.  How can he be so unforgiving toward his own gender? 

He can offer such an ungracious speech because he is correct. Boys are dumb.  Now that we have that established, before I proceed, allow me to defend my guy friend by explaining that he finished his remark by saying “but girls are stupid”.  Again, the guy friend is correct.  In fact, he couldn’t be more right.

Boys are dumb and girls are stupid (not to mention needy, emotional, ridiculous, and occasionally anti-committal).  Don’t worry, this isn’t about dogging the female population either-this one’s for the guys. 

So fellahs, why the random rant?  Because I feel bad for the “good guys” that just can’t seem to win. Good guys don’t win because being a good guy isn’t enough.  Sure, the world has expectations for who you should be, but is that who you are when no one else is around?  Don’t just be a “good guy”-be a man of integrity. The world can promise you limited and fleeting success, but a man of bold conviction stands forever. 

Down here in the South, these good guys are often referred to as good ole’ boys….the problem with these “good ole’ boys” is that they never become men.  We’ve got a bunch of 20 and 30-somethings that are great at having fun and hanging out and are even glad to lend a helping hand to those stuck out in a ditch somewhere, but somewhere along the way we lost the real men….men of principles, men with self control, men pursuing their God-given purpose.

Boys are dumb, but men have integrity-men are bold.

Men are intentional. 

Boys are dumb, so be a man. Intentionally be a man.

Good guys are a dime a dozen, but a man…now that’s something worth striving to become.