How to Become the Perfect Man

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, May 3, 2023
And he said to him, “Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.”
1 Samuel 9:6 (NKJV)

According to you, who is the perfect man? Perhaps it is the one with a six-pack. You find this type mostly in gyms working on abs. They make heads turn wherever they go. Many of them are employed to provide security to high-end clientele.

The Ideal Man

Maybe your perfect man is the model type. These ones dress elegantly and march on red carpets in major fashion runways. Every piece of garment they wear seems to fit them perfectly. They too often draw attention wherever they go.

Many people still believes in physical qualities and machoism as the critical qualities of the ideal man. Some men secretly want to be that impeccable model. Women, on the other hand, search for the faultless man. To some people, though, the ideal man only exists in movies and dreams.

More Handsome that all Israelites

In the Bible, one character seems to fit this conventional notion of the perfect man. In relation to Aphiah, a Benjamite, scripture records, “And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.” (1 Samuel 9:2).

Saul would later become the first king of Israel. His reign, though, cannot be described in lofty superlatives. He failed miserably and lost his the reigns to David. Saul was the first and last king to emerge from his family and tribe despite his perfect physique and appearance.

An Honourable Man

Now, the Bible does not expressly define the perfect man but it gives hints. Take, for example, this description of Prophet, Judge and Priest Samuel by Saul’s servant, “…there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass…” (1 Samuel 9:6).

It is evident that Saul’s servant admired Samuel but not because of Samuel’s physical attributes. Samuel modelled the ideal man in that He was pious, honorable, reliable and helpful. The prophet may not have been a macho man, endowed with good looks, but he exemplified divine character.

How to Become the Perfect Man

Because we are fallible human begins, we cannot attain perfection unless we cooperate with the Holy Spirit to transform our attitudes and characters. This process was taking place in Samuel but Saul seemed to have stopped growing spiritually

While it is commendable to work towards a healthy and functional physique, outward beauty, and refinement in speech and mannerism, it is even more desirable to strive for perfection in character. To become the perfect man or woman, embrace the godly graces of integrity, fidelity to God and selfless service to humanity, among others.

Prayer
Dear God, help me to grow into the perfect man / woman You designed me to be, especially by modeling Your character.