What is it that makes up a man of God? Is it adherence to the Word? Is it always following his pastor and being there? Is it the ability to recall scriptures? Is it first one there and last one to leave? Is it at every event for the church? Is it title? Is it enough for someone else (an elder in the faith) to call a man—young or old—a man of God?
Through a loving and instructional letter to Timothy (the book of 2 Timothy), Paul provides much clarity to a young pastor. Young? I guess by age but when reading that he was with Paul on journeys and witnessed—directly and by hearsay—persecutions his father (in the faith) went through, we cannot help but think of a young man who perhaps had stepped into things much faster than perhaps some men twice his age (in his time). And throughout the second letter along with giving Timothy (or reminding) warnings basically that we (like Paul declared in Ephesians 6:12) do not wrestle against flesh and blood, that there are bigger things or a spiritual battle raging. There is another perspective. It is as if Paul desires to encourage his son (in the faith) that to make it for the long haul, it takes someone who steps out or steps away to get clarity.
And it is through clarity that Timothy is able to properly lead or shepherd the flock entrusted to him, like many a man of God is granted. While reading the book of 2 Timothy (to make sure that context is maintained), we pick up on some things at the beginning of chapter 4. Often as both an encouragement, challenge, and a rebuke, pastors will often jump to quote part of verse 2 to say, “Preach the word!” and/or “Be ready in season and out of season.” Sometimes included with that, yet rarely in context, are the words, “convince, rebuke, exhort”. And often that is where everything ends.
But verse two is verse with a colon right before in the end of verse one. This means that there was something important about verse one before the colon that provides detail or instruction. Verse 1 says, “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:” Poetic words when we are in a hurry to “skip to the good stuff” but we miss some things very important in that verse that is necessary to comprehend and fully understand the significance of verse 2. The word charge is a compound word. Initially charge (G1263) means to attest or protest earnestly, to testify, or to witness. In other words, let the evidence speak for itself. When we break that compound word charge to G1223 and G3140, we see that it means that there is a flow. And indeed when we read all of 2 Timothy as a complete letter without chapters and verses, we see a continual flow of thought. This letter also includes known facts or events, as if Timothy knows these things without any further explanation (beyond perhaps just a friendly reminder). But I digress. So let us look at verse one to say from Paul, Timothy let the record or evidence prove…This carries almost like an image of an attorney speaking before a judge or jury panel to weigh in on the evidence that will be wrapped up, like closing arguments. To that end Paul then says, “…before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living from the dead at His appearing and His kingdom”. In other words, God/Jesus sees all and knows all including the heart intent or motivation or the essence. So the things of God are not cold, just the facts, and pure logic but that there is a spirit or spiritual aspect involved. This means that the judgment of the living (the living meaning those who’ve accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior) and the dead (those who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior) at His appearing (the second coming) and His kingdom (heaven). In other words Timothy, let the evidence prove that I did all that I did as a Christian and desire that all Christians who follow me to do the same thing from the same heart because God will hold every one of us to an account.
And that right there is the problem. “I want to preach”, because a man out of pride desires to stand behind a pulpit and to have eyes glued to him. What’s more is that the reward or result of “good preaching” is who or how many answer the altar call. And man’s pride and ego resists knowing that the altar was empty after delivering a challenging message or teaching a lesson or counseling someone in an office. To that end, the challenge to preach the word with the majority of the following words is the challenge given by a man who desires to convey that it is by pride and ego we lead, it is pride that we do what we do, it is pride that motivates us to prepare lessons, and it is pride that gets us to go on outreach. It is pride (but we say to be an example) to go to morning prayer so others see and go as well. Am I wrong? I think quite of a number of saved years of my walk with God was filled (and wasted because it was done with a wrong heart) with the looking good, to take care of myself, make myself appear to be a man of God, and to be ready with a sermon or Bible study.
But what lacked from that for those early years from my walk with God are the two important words of recommendation from Paul to Timothy. Paul, who endured hardships that many American Christian would NEVER face and could have easily carried his frustration, bitterness, or coldness (as these words were the last words from Paul before his head was cut off) toward not only his congregation, attacked those who left him, and even respond “whatever” to Timothy as if his life didn’t matter. And yet I sincerely believe Paul’s heart burned for the brethren, to finish with his heart for Jesus and of Jesus to say these two important words: longsuffering and teaching. And often what may lack from our lessons or sermons are those two important ingredients. Pride dictates that we as preachers have paid dues and are on a higher road and almost with pointed finger and a furrowed brow declare, man up or measure up (or sucks to be you if you can’t hang like me).
Longsuffering means that while walking with a companion that if he/she becomes injured or is weak/tired that we (who are stronger) get under their shoulder and now help carry their weight. This is what Jesus said He desired to do Matthew 11:28-30. To teach (or teaching) is someone who remains there with the student until he/she gets it right. So by jamming this together, Paul encourages Timothy with perhaps words (in a modern translation) like these with Paul’s arm around Timothy’s shoulder like a dad offering advice to his son: Timothy, I know ministry is hard and at times it seems so easy to not want to give it your best or to say “to hell with them” because they refuse to believe or attack you/me. I get it. But remember Timothy, the only way these people will see Jesus and to encourage those who are after them (their disciples and/or biological children) to make it, you’ve got to keep giving your best—with all your heart—to Jesus, lead by example, go the second mile when it is so easy to say going one mile is enough, and make sure that you keep the main thing the main thing. Destiny and eternity are two most important things to God. And without one vision toward either one, the other won’t happen either. You and I have to maintain our hearts throughout it all, Timothy. But in the end—if we continue to love, serve, and forgive—so that others learn to love, serve, and forgive then we all get to enjoy His appearing and Kingdom a whole lot more.
Man of God, where is our heart in this race or fight or whatever metaphor we like to use? Is it who knows more Bible? Is it who can preach the loudest and longest? Is it how many people did we force to change and get clean before God ever had a chance through the Holy Spirit to do the job (and He would certainly do it better)? Is it to be called Pastor? Is it to see us behind a pulpit at a bible conference?
Or do our lives—by word and deed (Colossians 3:17)—serve as a living testimony that inspires others that they can not only accept Jesus, and well beyond to attend outreaches or be involved in ministries, but that they will endure to the end to be a light and example to others who will in turn do the same for others and on and on? What is it that we are pouring out (2 Timothy 4:6)? From a poem called Only One Life by C.T. Studd, the last stanza reads, “Only one life, yes only one, now let me say, ‘Thy will be done’; and when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say ‘twas worth it all’; only one life, ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” Be a true man of God, man of God.