The Man of God

Richard Thetford

In 1 Timothy 6:11 Paul tells Timothy: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” The man of God must have his mind set on removing the things of the flesh as Paul describes in Galatians 5:19-21 and set them on the spiritual as he points out here to Timothy and earlier to the Galatians in 5:22-23. It does not take an outsider long to recognize that an individual that practices these spiritual things is different, that they are a “man of God!”

How To Become A Man of God

Before we can become a man of God we must be born again. In John 3:1-6 a man named Nicodemus visits Jesus, understanding Him to be a teacher from God. Jesus answers his question and says “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus goes on to make this very plain in verse 5 and then says “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” We learn from these verses that before we can become a man of God (born of the spirit), we must be baptized (born again). Then the man of God will grow in faith and knowledge into a perfect man, the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13-15). Everyone that truly realizes the importance of being “in Christ” will then live their life as an example before others knowing that they are now a man of God!

The Duty of the Man of God

This article started by showing what Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11. In verse 10 he stated how we are to flee from covetousness and then pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness of verse 11. That is the man of God’s duty! But not only those things. The man of God will live a life in such a way as to confess Christ daily (1 Tim 6:12; Matt 10:32). We further learn that our duty involves keeping the commandments of God without spot (1 Tim 6:14). That is a tall order, but one that is necessary for every person that professes to be a Christian. A devoted Christian will not waiver concerning God’s commands to us. It is the duty of the man of God to ensure that the commandments of God are kept “without spot.”

In addition, 1 Timothy 3:17 says: “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” It is the man of God’s duty to ensure that all good works authorized by scripture are being accomplished. We might pause here to reflect, and ask ourselves, “am I doing my duty as a man of God?” Are we really taking up our armor and fighting the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6:12)? Remember, we always have an audience that is watching us, learning from the things that we do. Therefore, as a Christian we have a serious responsibility to God to ensure that we are doing our duty both in word and in deed.

SOMEONE IS WATCHING

Someone is learning from you today,

They look at your life as you go your way.

They see the things you do as daily you walk,

They take in what you say when they hear you talk.

They may try to imitate the life that you live,

Are the things they get from you what you really want to give?

Do you reflect Christ’s life in all you say and do,

Are you truly an example for that someone watching you?

---Ellen Kyle

The word of God will furnish the man of God (the Christian) unto all good works and make us complete (2 Tim 3:17). In addition, if we will do God’s will acceptably and continually (1 Tim 6:14), then we will have eternal life with Him (1 Tim 6:12)!