John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach, said, “Show me what you can do; don’t tell me what you can do.” Or, as King Ahab put it, “One who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off.” (1 Kings 20:11). Wow. Perhaps the first time Coach Wooden (a “good guy”) has been mentioned in the same context as King Ahab (uh, “not such a good guy”). My apologies to the late coach, but sometimes, even bad kings get it right. In this case, the lesson is clear from both the wise and the wicked – don’t make empty promises. I’ve been guilty of this countless times in my life. I promised to send a text, arrive at a spot, never do that one behavior again or always do that other behavior. I have made commitments – small and large – that I simply didn’t follow through and make good on. When I do this, it erodes trust in those around me. And, that trust erosion results in shallow relationships. When people can’t trust me, they distance themselves. Our kids need us to show them – among other things – faithfulness, self-control, kindness and diligence. Don’t tell them how you will do it in the future, show them.

What is a disciple in Jesus? We don’t use the word “disciple” much these days. When we do, it conjures up images of guys wearing long robes and sandals, walking down dusty roads. Truth is, while the wardrobes have changed over 2,000 years, the commitments and expectations have not. Believers are still called to be disciples of Jesus. That means we need to know what being a disciple means and how we apply it to our lives in the 21st century.

Letting God take the lead in our planning process: The old cliché tells us that failing to plan means we’re planning to fail. But, as guys, we’ve all experienced those moments when our best-laid plans come crashing to the ground. As we’re streaking toward the finish line, we twist an ankle or stumble on a rock. Truth is, planning for the future is an important part of life—as long as we do it the right way. That’s because our plans only work as they line up with God’s plans. More than anything else, we need His wisdom to navigate the twists and turns of this life. As dads and husbands, we’d do well to remember that often. And leaning into the wisdom of Proverbs 16 is a great place to start!

“Always prefer the plain direct word to the long, vague one. Don’t implement promises, but keep them.” – C. S. Lewis

“Many Christians ‘stall out’ in the faith when the call to total commitment is received or viewed as something too high or too hard to acquire…or they have never been taught that total commitment is Christ’s demand for all His followers.” – Chip Ingram

“Integrity characterizes the entire person, not just part of him. He is righteous and honest through and through. He is not only that inside, but also in outer action.” – R. Kent Hughes

Show them. If you’re anything like me, there are times when our stated intentions don’t quite line up with our daily actions. Over time, let’s strive to get those into alignment. As we’re learning, perhaps one thing we need to focus on is showing our wives and children how we walk. What is one way, this week, that you can show your family your dedication to serving them? Not just with your words, but with your intentional and thoughtful actions?

Kent Evans
Author of The Manhood Journey, co-founder of Manhood Journey and Father On Purpose.

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

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