Table of Contents
- Men Do Not Give Up
- Your strength is meant to serve the people that God has assigned to you.
- And you cannot give up, because if you give up, they lose out.
- Biblical & Theological Sources
- Psychology, Resilience, and Grit
- Masculinity, Grit & Historical Roles of Men
- Neuroscience & Endurance
- Spiritual & Devotional Works on Perseverance
For the men who are athletes in sports, do not give up.
A lot can be said about the athlete, and the bible talks about the athlete.
Some can say that the modern day athlete is a type or shadow of the historic warrior, and in many respects, this is true, because in the world of sports, people try to push the barriers, take courage and work towards the success of their team.
Inspirational Quote of the Day:
Men Do Not Give Up
In the body of Christ, this is what we're supposed to do - work towards the success of our team, The Church.
We're supposed to push barriers, push against the things that the world says is what they want, and instead push into that barrier the things of the kingdom of God, and say, This is what the Lord says.
We likewise need to take courage, because without courage, we won't fulfill our mission. And also in The Church, we're supposed to look towards the success of the team, which is why the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6 that we're to pray for all the saints.
Today we're going to be looking at what the Bible has to say about men who are athletes or warriors.
Samuel 10:12 says to be of good courage, and let us play the men.
Your strength is for the people that you serve, and that can be on the football field, or basketball court, but it can also be at home. It can also be in your local church and in the wider community.
Your strength is meant to serve the people that God has assigned to you.
And of course, you know that physical strength also can translate into mental strength.
And so when the Lord gives you the ability to build your strength, whether it be physically or mentally, that strength is for you and the people that you were sent to serve. 
Bible Verses About Success (Powerful)
And you cannot give up, because if you give up, they lose out.
You see, sometimes we develop a myopic vision for our lives that only centers around ourselves, but just as in sports, in real life, your teammates are depending on you, your teammates in the church are the members of the Body of Christ, and God wants His Church to be strong, and that strength that he may have given to you spiritually is for the body. If you're married your wife and children are your team so to speak. Use your strength to build them up and protect them. Be a Man.
The strength that He's given to you physically are for things that need to be done physically in The Church. Likewise, your mental abilities are for the Body of Christ, and not only for The Church, but for your home, your community.
| Aspect of Masculine Perseverance | View |
|---|---|
| 1. Calling to Endurance | Scripture repeatedly commands men to “stand firm” (1 Cor. 16:13), tying masculinity to resolve, fortitude, and discipline. Perseverance is not passive but active battle-readiness. |
| 2. Ability to Push Through Hardship | Men historically carried burdens, dangers, and physical demands for families and communities. Grit enabled protection, provision, and societal stability. |
| 3. Steadfastness Under Trials | James 1:12 links blessing to endurance under trial. Masculine grit develops spiritual maturity, stability, and inner strength. |
| 4. Resistance to Emotional Collapse | Men often compartmentalize stress, giving them resilience in urgent or dangerous situations. Studies show testosterone and dopamine pathways help with delayed gratification and long-term endurance. |
| 5. Physical Strength Supporting Perseverance | Men’s capacity for physical labor reinforces psychological grit. Strength training increases resilience, confidence, and stress tolerance. |
| 6. Sacrificial Commitment | Biblical men endured hardship for others—Abraham, Moses, David, Paul. Sacrifice requires persistent self-denial and unwavering determination. |
| 7. Vision-Fueled Perseverance | Men thrive when given mission, direction, and purpose (Hab. 2:2). Purpose strengthens grit and keeps the heart steady under pressure. |
| 8. Leadership During Hard Seasons | A man’s perseverance anchors his household during storms. Strong men guide families through crises with stability and courage. |
| 9. Spiritual Grit in Prayer & Obedience | Daniel prayed three times a day despite persecution. Perseverance shows itself in consistency, discipline, and devotion to God. |
| 10. Grit Through Temptation | Men who endure temptation develop biblical character (James 1:2–4). Resistance requires mental stamina, self-control, and a high view of holiness. |
| 11. Ability to Shoulder Burdens | Men historically took on physically and emotionally taxing responsibilities for the good of the community. The biblical phrase “bear one another’s burdens” also implies masculine reliability. |
| 12. Grit in Work & Provision | Provision requires long-term consistency—early mornings, difficult seasons, and continual effort. This labor-based perseverance shapes godly masculinity. |
| 13. Courage to Face Fear | Courage is not lack of fear, but movement through fear (Deut. 31:6). Men develop grit by confronting challenges boldly. |
| 14. Stability in the Face of Uncertainty | Masculine grit includes the ability to stay steady when circumstances shift. A gritty man becomes an emotional anchor for others. |
| 15. Persistence in Spiritual Warfare | Paul’s imagery of armor (Eph. 6) assumes perseverance. Men must withstand spiritual pressure and fight with sustained endurance. |
Every Man Must Persevere To Have Victory
And in order for people to benefit from what you have received, you have to persevere.
For every man that's an athlete, living from day to day, wondering about whether or not they can go on, understand that it's not just about you, it's about your people.
Let us play the men for our people and let God do what is right in His sight.
References:
Biblical & Theological Sources
Calvin, John. Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul. Baker, 1556–1559.
Keil, C. F. & Delitzsch, F. Commentary on the Old Testament. Hendrickson, 1866–1890.
Henry, Matthew. Commentary on the Whole Bible. 1710.
Meyer, Heinrich. Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. T & T Clark, 1830–1870.
Edersheim, Alfred. Bible History: Old Testament. Eerdmans, 1876.
Athanasius. Letters to Serapion. 4th Century (spiritual endurance themes).
Augustine. On Patience. 418 AD.
Chrysostom, John. Homilies on Hebrews and Homilies on Romans (endurance under trial).
Spurgeon, Charles. Morning & Evening. 1866 (perseverance & steadfastness).
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. SCM Press, 1937 (grit, sacrifice, endurance).
Psychology, Resilience, and Grit
Duckworth, Angela. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner, 2016.
Bandura, Albert. Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. W. H. Freeman, 1997.
Baumeister, Roy. “Self-Regulation and Endurance.” Psychological Review, 1994.
Deci, Edward & Ryan, Richard. Self-Determination Theory. University of Rochester Press, 2000.
Seligman, Martin. Learned Optimism. Knopf, 1991.
Maddi, Salvatore. “Hardiness Theory.” American Psychologist, 2002.
Kobasa, Suzanne. “Hardiness and Life Stress.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979.
Tugade, Michele & Fredrickson, Barbara. “Resilience in Emotional Regulation.” Journal of Personality, 2004.
Taylor, Shelley. The Science of Resilience. Oxford University Press, 2012.
Masculinity, Grit & Historical Roles of Men
Geary, David. Male, Female: The Evolution of Human Sex Differences. APA Press, 1998.
Wrangham, Richard & Peterson, Dale. Demonic Males. Houghton Mifflin, 1996 (risk, endurance).
Wilcox, W. Bradford. Soft Patriarchs, New Men. University of Chicago Press, 2004.
Popenoe, David. Life Without Father. Harvard University Press, 1996 (male responsibility & grit).
Hawkes, Kristen. “Provisioning Strategies and Male Effort.” Human Nature, 1992.
Kaplan, Hillard. “Risk, Hardship & Male Life Strategy.” Evolutionary Anthropology, 2009.
Tooby, John & Cosmides, Leda. The Adapted Mind. Oxford University Press, 1992 (male resilience).
Neuroscience & Endurance
Sapolsky, Robert. Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst. Penguin, 2017.
Archer, John. “Testosterone, Aggression & Persistence.” Psychological Bulletin, 2006.
Booth, Alan; Johnson, Douglas. “Testosterone and Male Motivation.” Journal of Personality, 2001.
Kraemer, William. “Strength Training & Hormonal Response.” Journal of Applied Physiology, 1998.
Rantanen, Taina. “Muscle Strength & Endurance.” Journal of Gerontology, 1999.
Spiritual & Devotional Works on Perseverance
Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. HarperOne, 1952 (endurance & moral grit).
Piper, John. Don’t Waste Your Life. Crossway, 2003 (purpose-driven endurance).
Tozer, A. W. The Pursuit of God. Christian Publications, 1948.
Murray, Andrew. Humility & Absolute Surrender. 1895 (spiritual perseverance).
Lloyd-Jones, Martyn. Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure. Eerdmans, 1965.
