What Does it Mean to be a Godly Man?
A Godly Man is someone who strives to follow the will of God.
He aligns his thoughts, words, and actions with God’s Word.
A Godly man is far from perfect.
He tries his best to live by the light he has been given.
A Godly Man is about more than just being a good person.
He tries to become more Christlike every day.
A Godly Man does not seek to serve himself over others.
He treats others according to God’s standards.
A Godly Man is not self glorifying.
He seeks to glorify God through His life.
A Godly Man seeks to understand and adopt godly behaviours and lives to please God. For this reason, he does not give up on striving for perfection. He wants his character to reflect Christ’s, so he seeks to change his bad habits and traits. His character is being transformed every day. He understands his weaknesses, and he regularly asks for help from God to change him. A Godly man knows that only by learning and practising spiritual disciplines can he become a Godly Man.
1. A Man of God Pursues the Things of God
1 Timothy 6:11 says, “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.”
This verse is part of a larger section of a letter the apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy. Timothy wanted to become an effective evangelist and teacher, and so he was eager to hear Paul’s guidance on growing in his faith and witness. Paul taught that he should flee sinful actions and instead focus on the things that mirrored God’s character. By doing so, he would fill his own heart with the things of God.
2. A Man of God Confesses His Sins
1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
No one is without sin; we are all fallen human beings, and Even though God has saved us forever through the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we should still be quick to recognize our shortcomings and ask for forgiveness when we do sin. If we do, He will extend His forgiveness over our hearts, remove our guilt and shame, and we will be free to continue His work in making us more like Him.
3. A Man of God Is Faithful No Matter His Stage in Life
1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”
There is no age limit to becoming a man of God; begin right now! If you are faithful in reading His Word, praying for His will, and living according to the example of Jesus, you can be a man of God now! Becoming old and wise begins today. What you say and do, how you interact with others, and what you do when no one is looking will all build your life into the man God wants you to be.
4. A Man of God Looks to Heaven
1 John 3:2 says, “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.”
We can draw strength from what God has created us to be in the here and now, but we should constantly be looking to our glorious future in heaven. By faith, we can be assured that God will remake our bodies and transform our spirits into the eternal beings we are destined to become, and we can look to that wonderful day when we can see Jesus face to face in His eternal kingdom.
5. A Man of God Has Puts His Old Self to Death
Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
By accepting Jesus’ salvation and being baptised, we will identify with Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross as a sign that our old sinful self has also been put to death. We will be raised up to walk in newness of life with renewed purpose, a strengthened spirit, and an eternal hope that can never be taken from us.
6. A Man of God Behaves Himself Properly
Romans 13:13 says, “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarrelling and jealousy.”
The character traits and lifestyle choices listed here are not compatible with the nature of God. We must avoid even any appearance of immorality, and certainly avoid flagrant and deliberate actions that conform to our old sinful ways. This is absolutely true of any habits we personally indulged in or sins that we struggled with before coming to Christ; and we should aggressively avoid these things and instead choose to pursue holiness and righteousness.
7. A Man of God Is True to His Word
James 3:2 says, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”
By honouring what we profess and being faithful to match our speech to our actions, we show that we are following the Lord. We will never be completely perfect, but by controlling our bodies and our tongues, as we yield to God’s will, we are walking down a righteous path.
8. A Man of God Has Put His Old Life Behind Him
Galatians 5:24 says, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Crucifixion is a violent, agonising and absolute form of death which leaves no question or doubt that the victim is gone. This is how we should treat our life of sin before coming to Christ: we must put it to death and be renewed into the new life we live with Jesus Christ.
9. A Man of God Holds Fast When Asked About His Faith
Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He Who promised is faithful.”
When we find things are getting tough, or we are confronted by people and situations, it can be tempting to leave God out or say that we succeeded or survived in our own strength. A godly man will always give the glory back to God, and remain faithful to His Father, who has always been faithful to him.
10. A Man of God Is Filled with the Holy Spirit
Acts 13:52 says, “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
The true believer has the knowledge of the full power of God residing in his heart at all times – what greater cause for joy could we have? Let us always remember His presence in our lives, and draw true joy from it each day.
11. A Man of God Relies on God No Matter Where He Is
2 Corinthians 5:9 says, “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him.”
God is not just the God of Sunday services; He is the God of every day, and so He should be at the forefront of our lives every minute of every day.
12. A Man of God Is Humble and Selfless
Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
This is the meaning and application of Jesus’ command that we should love our neighbour as ourselves. The Man of God should serve others as though they were more important than himself, giving selflessly so that they might benefit ahead of us. This act of humility puts God’s heart first and foremost and God will reward our actions because of it.
13. A Man of God Serves God by Serving Others
Matthew 25:40 says, “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.’”
When we see Jesus reflected in people around us, we see them with God’s eyes. This is how we know that God fully resides in a person, and this should be our motivation for serving others – not because it makes us feel good, but because we want others to see Jesus reflected in us, and so further God's kingdom on earth
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