What Kind of Man am I? And, What Kind of Man Are You?

“What kind of man am I?”

This morning as I read the qualifications for church leadership in 1 Timothy 3, this question was at the forefront of my mind. I write this article as a young man who aspires to pastoral ministry in the future. Right now, I am going through the book of 1 Timothy with a group of guys that I have the privilege of discipling. I chose this letter for our group because Paul is giving instructions to his young protégé, Timothy, another young man at the beginning of his ministry.

As I read Paul’s list of qualifications for church leadership, this question kept ringing in my head: “What kind of man am I?” In other words, I was struck with the thought that my character reflects the kind of man that I am. It’s actually pretty simple: a godly man­—by definition—possesses Christlike character.

So, reader, what kind of man are you? In this short article, I want to offer a few reflections on the qualifications for church leadership in 1 Timothy 3 and the process of becoming a godly man with Christlike character.

A Mature Man

You are probably familiar with the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3. Nevertheless, it is good to remember that the portrait of godly leadership that Paul describes is more concerned with character than skills or abilities. In the span of seven verses, Paul lists a total of fifteen qualifications for elders. Fourteen of those qualifications are concerned with character. In essence, Paul’s picture of church leadership is an example of what the mature Christian man should look like.

This point is not to say that we shouldn’t aspire to be competent men who are skilled in preaching, teaching, and shepherding the flock. The glory of God and the responsibility of ministry require our best, similar to David, who shepherded God’s people with skillful hands (Psalm 78:72) or Apollos, who became an eloquent and zealous preacher, mighty in the Scriptures (Acts 18:24-28). However, my point is that in all our time dedicated to cultivating our ministerial skills, we can easily neglect the character formation that is central to our ministry.

Paul seemed to understand this possibility, for in the following verses he repeatedly charged Timothy to remember his character. He urged Timothy to train himself in godliness (1 Tim 4:7-8), to set an example for the church as a godly man (1 Tim 4:12), and to pay close attention to his life and his teaching (1 Tim 4:16). In other words, ministry begins and ends with a heart that seeks after God. Character then, is simply the reflection of a heart that has cultivated long obedience to Christ. Godly men are not formed overnight, and yet paradoxically, godly men are formed through individual choices every single day.

Paul’s qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 should function as a mirror for us to examine our character. This list should serve as an encouragement—giving us a picture of what to strive for—and a challenge that corrects our view of ourselves. If this is the case, then how do we become godly men?

Character Formation

Character is like an oak tree. Though oak trees do not grow overnight, over many years they have the potential to form wide roots and strong, wide trunks. Scripture uses tree imagery throughout the Bible. In relation to the blessed man, Psalm 1 describes the blessed man as a tree, planted by flowing streams, bearing much fruit, and with leaves that do not wither. The Psalmist helps us to see that the blessed man flourishes because he is rooted in the life-giving waters of God’s word. Character formation begins with a commitment to be like the blessed man through delighting in God’s word. However, as you may know, oak trees begin as small acorns and are formed through years of various seasons, storms, and sunny days.

The example of the oak tree helps us understand that to become a mature man, we need to have a long-term and a short-term view. You need a long-term view to remember that it takes years to develop godly character. Just think about Moses’ journey in the wilderness before the burning bush, David as the shepherd boy in the fields, Samuel as a young boy in the tabernacle, or even Jesus’ thirty years before beginning his ministry. And yet, you also need a short-term view. Short-term in the sense that godly character is the reflection of the decisions and attitudes you have today. The reality is that godly character takes a lifetime to build and only a moment to undermine. A short-term view reminds us that we need to keep this tension before us daily. By God’s help we are called to fight the good fight of faith, today. Character then is really the culmination of daily, moment by moment decisions.

The reality is that godly character takes a lifetime to build and only a moment to undermine.

Thankfully, we know that God has not left us to try and figure out what it means have godly character. Instead, we have the premiere, perfect example of the mature man in Jesus Christ, into whose image God is daily conforming us (Rom 8:29). Furthermore, it is the grace of God that motivates and empowers godly living (Titus 2:11-12). The Lord has promised to finish the good work he has started in us (Phil 1:6). To use another image, we are a renovation project that’s still under construction. God as the master architect has given us a new foundation in Christ, and the glory of his finished work remains to be seen. Though we struggle now, we can take heart, because we shall see Christ as he is and will be like him (1 John 3:2). Thus, we grow in Christlike character by daily looking to Jesus and following him in wholehearted obedience.

What kind of man are you? Let’s resolve today to be men who seek after Christ with all our heart. As you think about your character today, I find it fitting to close with Paul’s admonition to Timothy: “But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim 6:11-12).