Looking for a few godly men....

“Jesus…is the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God (Rev. 5:5-6). He was lionhearted and lamblike, strong and meek, tough and tender, aggressive and responsive, bold and brokenhearted. He sets the pattern for manhood.”  John Piper

  What does it mean to be a man, particularly a godly man? The entertainment culture has two sets of males. One is a bumbling Homer Simpson type that’s generally kicked around by his wife and children. He’s harmless, cute but never taken seriously. Then, there’s the action hero type, think Rambo. He has difficulty putting two coherent sentences together, but is able to string together rounds of bullets without a problem. Bulging biceps, monosyllable foul language and an appetite for loose women are his ontology. He solves problems by blowing up and blowing things up.

  While most agree these male types shouldn’t reflect what it is to be a man, too many boys and men in the Church take their masculinity cues from a lost world. While one may be a hero in a lost world that same one can be a zero with God – and God’s evaluation is the one that ultimately matters.

  What is a godly man? We find many models in Scripture. Most of us like lists and the New Testament gives us one. It’s the job description of a deacon. The term deacon is a transliteration of the Greek word, diakonos, which means servant. Generally, it refers to domestic servants, as in John 2 at the wedding at Cana. Paul calls himself a diakonos in 1 Corinthians 3:5, a servant of Christ. Every godly man will first be a “servant of Christ.”

  In 1 Timothy 3:8-13 we find the qualifications of a deacon. They’re also guidelines for what it means to be a godly man. When God seeks leaders, He doesn't look for talent but godly virtues.

  Respectable, “dignified.” The word is the opposite of being a goof-off. A godly man has a seriousness of purpose about him. His wife, his family and others sense that he’s concerned for them, so that they trust and respect him. He’s not a cold, joyless person, yet he understands the seriousness of life and is a man whose character is worth imitating.

  Integrity in speech, “not double-tongued.” He’s sincere, not guilty of saying one thing and then turning around and saying another. He doesn't speak out of both sides of his mouth. It’s better for him to say nothing at all than to say one thing to one person and something else to another. A godly man interacts with different people at home and work and is consistent in what he says. When Fred Mitchell, chairman of the China Inland Mission, died, one of the speakers at his funeral said this about him: “You never caught Fred Mitchell off his guard because he never needed to be on it.” 

  Self-controlled, “not addicted to much wine.” Like today, offering someone a glass of wine was a gesture of hospitality. Godly men exercise control. They’re disciplined. They know where the lines are. When it comes to alcohol, they may drink but are not known as a “drinker.”

  Financially honest, “not greedy for dishonest gain." A godly man is ethical in his finances and business dealings. He’s a man of integrity. He’d rather lose money than gain it through a shady deal or cutting corners. He has the right attitude toward money, seeing himself as a manager of God’s money and knows that money is a tool not the means to an end.

  Scripturally sound, “must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.” His life and doctrine must match. They are men of orthodoxy and orthopraxy. The mystery of the faith is a New Testament term for Christian truth, especially the Gospel. It points to that which once was hidden, yet now has been revealed in Jesus Christ. A godly man knows God’s Word and has convictions regarding the central truths of the Christian faith. In addition to sound doctrine, he’s sound in obedience and has a clear conscience. He doesn’t just know His Bible, He lives it out.

  Proven, “And let them also be tested first…let them…prove themselves blameless.” Blameless is a general term referring to someone’s overall character. A godly man’s personal background, reputation, and theological positions must be above reproach. He should have a consistent track record of holiness. An untested leader is an unprepared leader.

  Morally pure, “husband of one wife.” A godly man is a one-woman man. His wife ought to occupy his full horizon. He must love her as he loves himself. He must be devoted to his wife both in mind and body. A godly man is not flirtatious and is pure in thought and life.

  Consistent family life, “managing their children and their own households well.” The home is the proving ground for godly leadership. If a man flunks out at home, he’s not fit for church leadership.

  The quest for true manhood ultimately drives us to the Cross of Jesus Christ. We run to Jesus not just as the ultimate example of what a man looks like, but more importantly as our Savior.

  As a man, I don’t just need to be rescued from the evil of the surrounding culture, I need to be rescued from the sin in my own heart. I need to be rescued from me. The greatest danger to any man exists inside of him, not outside of him. Sin makes me willing to be less than the man God designed me to be, and for that, I need His forgiveness and transforming grace. 

  It’s only through salvation and depending on God’s grace that any of us attains true manhood. A godly man has decided to let God control his life by applying God’s Word to his everyday activities. He loves God and serves the Lord by serving others showing the love of Christ to them through his words and actions. Are you a godly man?

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.