The Minister's Character Series

Scripture

We are installing the Rev. Scott Simmons as the part-time Assistant Pastor at the Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church.

I would like to draw your attention to Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 6:11-14 where he describes the minister’s character.

You may recall that Paul had left Timothy as the pastor of the church in Ephesus, and these words constitute Paul’s description of the minister’s character.

Let us read 1 Timothy 6:11-14:

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Timothy 6:11-14)

Introduction

Much of what I have to say today comes from John MacArthur’s Rediscovering Expository Preaching. MacArthur points out that in Scripture, different titles such as prophet, elder, evangelist, and pastor often refer to God’s spokesmen. Generally these titles refer to the task that the man executes. One title, however, refers to the character of the man holding an office. That title is “man of God.”

By calling Timothy a man of God, Paul identifies him with a long line of spokesmen for God extending back into the Old Testament. Paul reminds Timothy that he is “God’s man” for the task that God has set before him and called him to.

Scott, you are God’s man, the man of God if you please, and you are being installed as the Assistant Pastor here today. You have proven that you are a man of God by your many years of faithful service. You are no spring chicken!

Lesson

1 Timothy 6:11-14 shows us four marks of a man of God.

I. A Man of God Is Marked by What He Flees From (6:11a)

First, a man of God is marked by what he flees from.

Paul says in verse 11a, “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things….” From what must the man of God flee? The immediate context indicates that it is a love for money. In verses 9-11, Paul warns that the man of God must flee the evils associated with love of money, which is essentially greed. It will destroy the man of God, so he must flee these things.

A greedy love of money is a common sin of false teachers. Throughout the Scriptures, from Balaam, that greedy prophet for hire (Deuteronomy 23:4; 2 Peter 2:15), to Judas, who betrayed our Lord for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 27:3), to the money-hungry televangelists and prosperity preachers of our own day, false teachers have been characterized by greed.

But that is not true of a man of God. A man of God is not like those who, in Paul’s words, “peddle the word of God for profit” (2 Corinthians 2:17). He is not a spiritual con artist. He has to proclaim God’s message, not what he thinks will sell. He is in the business of piercing men’s hearts with God’s truth, not tickling their ears. He does nothing for personal gain.

In other places in his writings, Paul lists other threats to ministry from which the man of God must flee: immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18), idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14), false teaching (1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16), and lust (2 Timothy 2:22).

Scott, you as a man of God must be a life-long fugitive, fleeing from these things that will destroy you and your ministry. Thankfully, you have been doing that faithfully for many years. You have a track record of doing so. But having started well does not mean that you will necessarily end well.

Therefore, it is essential that you continue to flee all the days of your life from all these things that will tear down your ministry and make you ineffective in God’s service.

II. A Man of God Is Marked by What He Follows After (6:11b)

Second, a man of God is marked by what he follows after.

Paul says in verse 11b, “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.”

Paul lists six virtues to be pursued by the man of God. Let me briefly define each virtue.

“Righteousness” in this context means “giving God and men their due,” that is, “doing what is right.”

“Godliness” means “piety.” This is Christlikeness, the devout and practical expression of Christianity.

“Faith” connotes “fidelity, faithfulness.” It is wholehearted trust in the Lord.

“Love” in this context means a high, holy love that seeks the best for others.