Resources/Articles
The Highest Title In The Land
When I think of the call to preaching and try to reduce it to
one pregnant statement that best describes it,
I cannot rise any higher than man of God.
Conrad Mbewe
The above statement should rate among our top five on a list of things we remember. It is the world’s greatest need for a man or woman to be a man or woman of God. It is not because they wear the “religious clothes” (i.e., dark collars and white robes), which set them apart from other men and women. It is their godly character and holy way of life which serves God in honor.
In the New Testament, the words “man of God” are mentioned twice (1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 3:16,17). In the Old Testament, the phrase is mentioned over 80 times in reference to Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and David. All of these were men of God because they spent time in His presence. They received a message from the Father. They appeared before God’s people or any enemy of righteousness and said, “Thus saith the Lord.” There was authority behind those words which was attributed to their relationship with God.
Many of those who listened to these men of God speak took note of their words as people who had been with God.This is the way a man of God is described in 1 Timothy 6:11. He is respected and honored because he pursues righteousness and godliness. Accepting such a responsibility will bring power and strength to a lesson delivered by a preacher, instructions from a father, or exhortation from an elder. When men of God occupy the position of husband, father, elder, deacon, evangelist, or teacher, others will grow because of him, not in spite of him.
2 Timothy 3:16,17 is Paul telling Timothy that the word of God is like a toolbox for the tradesman who has what he needs to repair or build a piece of equipment. The only thing Paul makes sure Timothy knows is at the end of the day, he will give account of what he has done (2 Timothy 4:1).
A man of God needs to keep the word before him. Remind yourself that your instructions are not from cultural trends, business criteria, political policies, or other worldly influences. Get your cue from God. A man of God will do justice to the law of God by keeping the charge assigned to him. Pray to the Lord every day of your life to make you and keep you a man of God. It is the highest honor on the face of the earth and is still linked to a great infinite being.
What legacy will you leave this world as a man or woman? Will you leave wealth, position, pride, popularity, power, and fame, or honor, courage, growth, self-control, humility, faithfulness, holiness, sacrifice, and endurance? Leave your family, friends, the church, and this land with a signpost of one who followed the ways of the Lord Most High. Then when people remember you, they will remember your work as those things which need repeating within their own lives.
