Affluent Savvy
Photo by Mizuno K Pexels Logo Photo: Mizuno K

What are the 3 desires of men?

According to Eldredge, men have three core desires: battle, adventure, beauty.

How do I ask God for more money?
How do I ask God for more money?

A Biblical Prayer for Money Help me remember that You are always with me and You will never fail me nor abandon me. You graciously give me all that...

Read More »
Why is it a sin to love money?
Why is it a sin to love money?

In Christian tradition, the love of money is condemned as a sin primarily based on texts such as Ecclesiastes 5:10 and 1 Timothy 6:10. The...

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

For the novel by Barry Gifford, see Wild at Heart (novel)

2001 book by John Eldredge

Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul is a book by John Eldredge published in 2001, on the subject of the role of masculinity in contemporary evangelical Christian culture and doctrine. From the back cover: "In Wild at Heart, John Eldredge invites men to recover their masculine heart, defined in the image of a passionate God." The book has been received favorably by many, including Chuck Swindoll, who called it "the best, most insightful book I have read in at least the last five years." Eldredge claims that men are bored; they fear risk, they refuse to pay attention to their deepest desires. He challenges Christian men to return to what he characterizes as authentic masculinity without resorting to a "macho man" mentality. Men often seek validation in venues such as work, or in the conquest of women, Eldredge observes. He urges men to take time out and come to grips with the desires of their hearts. Eldredge frames the book around his outdoor experiences and anecdotes about his family and references elements of pop culture such as the film Braveheart and lyrics from well-known songs.

Contents [ edit ]

Movement One: Reflecting God and the Masculine Question [ edit ]

Wild at Heart has three main movements. The first argues that every aspect of a man, from his desires to who he is as a man, reflects God. Eldredge bases this belief off of Genesis 1:26-28 where God creates mankind in his image as male and female. Eldredge takes time to establish that the reason a man has the desires that he does and the reason why he is masculine is because he is, ultimately, an image-bearer of God. According to Eldredge, men reflect God uniquely in this way: they demonstrate God's ability to "come through" for his people. Men are made to "come through." Eldredge asserts that all man carry a deep question that is uniquely a masculine question. The question goes like this: "Do I have what it takes?"

Movement Two: The Poser, the Wound, and the Healing [ edit ]

Will bedbugs follow you?
Will bedbugs follow you?

Bed bugs will not go away if you sleep in another room. Instead, they will follow you and create new colonies wherever you move. Remember: Always...

Read More »
Who really wrote the Ten Commandments?
Who really wrote the Ten Commandments?

According to the Book of Exodus in the Torah, the Ten Commandments were revealed to Moses at Mount Sinai and inscribed by the finger of God on two...

Read More »

The second movement is, perhaps, the diciest part of the book. Eldredge asserts that all men carry a wound that hits men in the area of their deep question. Eldredge, drawing on Scripture and his experience as a counselor, demonstrates how all men create a false self by which they display themselves to the world at large. This false self, or identity, feigns strength and courage while hiding cowardice and fear. Eldredge calls this false self The Poser. Eldredge says that when men are wounded in they typically go to two extremes or some combination of the two: angry men or passive men. "Look around our churches and ask, 'What is the typical Christian man like?' The answer is usually bored, angry, or passive." The first and deepest wound for most men, according to Eldredge, comes by way of the father. Eldredge says that the answer to a man's question and the healing of their wound can only be found in Jesus. Eldredge describes the journey of healing and restoration that God wants to take every man on so that they can begin to live life the way he intended for them: free and from their restored masculine heart.

Movement Three: The Core Desires of a Man's Heart [ edit ]

According to Eldredge, men have three core desires: battle, adventure, beauty.

The first desire is for a "battle to fight." Eldredge says that deep in the heart of every man is a warrior. He rejects the notion that men are crass, abusive, and violent. But what he does push for is a "fierceness" and "courage" that is the heart of a warrior--the ability to stand and fight for something. Eldredge says that for a man to be complete he must be fighting for something. The second desire is for an "adventure to live." Eldredge points to the desire that most men have for exploration, creation, and adventure as uniquely masculine and a reflection of the heart of God. A man wants to be taken on a grand adventure and this is the invitation of the Gospel, says Eldredge. He points to many figures in Scripture such as Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David who, when partnered with the call and will of God, were called on spectacular adventures. The third desire is for a "beauty to rescue." Eldredge does not advocate male superiority or attempts to teach that women want or need to be subjugated by men. What he does point out is that in almost every story worth telling there is a beauty that needs rescuing in some fashion, whether it is from a dragon or a wicked stepmother or whether it is from fear and hopelessness. He makes it clear that, like men, women have three core desires also, but a man cannot answer her question. Eldredge moves beyond the notion that the Beauty equals a woman. Beauty can be found in nature, music, story, art, and ultimately in relationship with God. According to Eldredge, a man must become a "poet" in this regard--enjoying beauty outside of a woman--before he pursues a woman.

Who guards the Soul Stone?
Who guards the Soul Stone?

Red Skull's Red Skull's appearance as keeper of the Soul Stone in Avengers: Infinity War was a shocking cameo for many Marvel fans. After trying in...

Read More »
How much does TikTok pay for 1k?
How much does TikTok pay for 1k?

The best estimate is that you can make 2-4 cents per 1,000 views. These views are calculated by video, not your account as a whole. For example, if...

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Along the way, Eldredge constantly reminds his readers that only God can ultimately fulfill these three desires and the only reason a man has these three desires is because they are a reflection of the heart of God. Everything in Wild At Heart points to God as the center for life, fulfillment, and purpose, according to Eldredge.

Related works [ edit ]

In 2005 Eldredge with his wife Stasi wrote Captivating, a companion to Wild at Heart, which explores femininity.

What does being wealthy look like?
What does being wealthy look like?

The wealthy, on the other hand, are those who have a lot of assets. This includes things like property, stocks, and bonds. The wealthy may also...

Read More »
What is the right mindset to become rich?
What is the right mindset to become rich?

A wealth mindset means spending less, making wise investments, and looking for ways to improve financial standing with minimal risk. The good news...

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »
Do billionaires use 401k?
Do billionaires use 401k?

Plenty of millionaires and superrich people use 401(k) plans to build wealth. But they don't necessarily put all their eggs in one basket.

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »
How do you pray when life is hard?
How do you pray when life is hard?

Help me not to fear the future but to boldly trust that you are in control when my emotions plunge me down, and when I am in despair. And times...

Read More »