A Few Thoughts About Godly Traits of Godly Men

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Len

1 Compassion  – Awareness, empathy, care, concern for others, kindness, and love. It starts with noticing needs resulting in wanting to relieve that need.

  • (EHV) When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not cry.” 14 He went up to the open coffin, touched it, and the pallbearers stopped. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

  • Mark 8:2-3 (EHV) I feel compassion for the crowd because they have already stayed with me three days and do not have anything to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way. Some of them have come from a long distance.”

2 Justice  – Unbiased, follows standards of the New Covenant, seeks God’s wisdom.

  • (EHV) It is a joy for a righteous person to practice justice, but destruction waits for those who practice evil.

  • James 2:9 (EHV) But if you show favoritism, you are committing a sin, since you are convicted by this law as transgressors.

3 Wisdom  – Knowledge of God’s ways, lifestyle, worldview, rules, knowledge of human traits, and life. Understanding of the why’s and how’s of knowledge. Experience in life, testing, being tested (by God), etc. Knowledge + Understanding + Experience = Wisdom.

  • (EHV) because the LORD gives wisdom. Knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.

  • Colossians 1:9-11 (EHV) For this reason, from the day we heard about your love, we also have not stopped praying for you. We keep asking that you would be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you might live in a way that is worthy of the Lord. Our goal is that you please him by bearing fruit in every kind of good work and by growing in the knowledge of God, 11 as you are being strengthened with all power because of his glorious might working in you.

4 Humility  – To see and understand other people, their complaints, needs, desires, and an attitude that I may be wrong.

Humility is submission to God and His kingdom management:

  • (EHV) But he gives greater grace! That is why it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”

  • An example: (EHV) Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, 7 but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.

5 Generosity  – Willing and if able to help those who need help whether it be spiritual, emotional, or physical needs.

Not just material but emotional and spiritual needs as well:

  • (EHV) You will be made rich in every way so that you may be generous in every way, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

  • 1 Timothy 6:18 (EHV) Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share.

6 Courage  – Bravery, righteous boldness, ability to repent, loyal, steadfast, faithful regardless of the costs.

  • (EHV) Keep alert. Stand firm in the faith. Demonstrate manly courage. Be strong. 14 Let everything you do be done in love.

  • 2 Timothy 1:7 (EHV) For God did not give us a timid spirit, but a spirit of power and love and sound judgment.

7 Integrity  – Truth in what they think, act, and speak.

  • (EHV) Better to be a poor person who walks in his integrity than one with perverse lips who is a fool.

  • 1 Kings 9:4-5 (EHV) As for you, if you walk before me in purity of heart and with integrity as your father David did, so that you carry out everything that I command you, and you keep all my statutes and my ordinances, 5 then I will maintain your royal throne over Israel forever,

8 Vision  – A plan first how to best follow Jesus and His ways, then a plan for husband and wife, then a plan for the family (including children), and then in retirement.

  • (EHV) The plans of a hard worker lead to abundance, but everyone in a hurry rushes toward scarcity.

  • Proverbs 16:3 (EHV) Commit what you do to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

9 Fruit of the Spirit – The work of the Holy Spirit through our lives

  • But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, and self-control.

  • 2 Peter 1:5-9 (EHV) And for this very reason, after applying every effort, add moral excellence to your faith. To moral excellence, add knowledge. 6 To knowledge, add self-control. To self-control, add patient endurance. To patient endurance, add godliness. 7 To godliness, add brotherly affection. And to brotherly affection, add love. 8 For if you have these qualities and they are increasing, they are going to keep you from being idle or unfruitful in regard to your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 Indeed, the person who lacks these qualities is shortsighted and, in fact, blind, because he has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

10 Faithfulness – Remaining true to God and His kingdom

  • (EHV) Still, the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and protect you from the Evil One.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:2-3 (EHV) In this connection, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But it is a trivial matter to me if I am evaluated by you or by a day in a human court. Why, I do not even evaluate myself.

11 Goodness – Meeting God’s standard of goodness as He defines it

(EHV) You are good, and you do good. Teach me your statutes.

Luke 6:45 (EHV) The good person brings what is good out of the good stored in his heart, and the evil person brings what is evil out of the evil within. To be sure, what his mouth speaks flows from the heart.

12 Weakness – Realization that we do not have the strength we need to accomplish something.

  • , NKJV – Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.…” can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”

  • (EHV) He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also weak in many ways.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:9 (EHV) And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will be glad to boast all the more in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may shelter me.

13 Graciousness – Showing help when it is not asked for.

  • (EHV) When she got up to glean, Boaz ordered his workers, “She may glean even among our sheaves. You are not to humiliate her in any way.”

  • 2 Kings 6:22 (EHV) He said, “Do not strike them down. Would you strike down a man you captured with your own sword and bow? Set food and water before them so that they can eat and drink and then go back to their master.”

14 Holiness – Avoiding sin to the best of our ability and living according to God’s standards

  • (EHV) Rather, just as the one who called you is holy, so also be holy in everything you do. 16 For it is written, “Be holy, because I am holy.”

  • Romans 6:19 (EHV) (I am speaking in a human way because of the weakness of your flesh.) Indeed, just as you offered your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness, resulting in more lawlessness, so now offer your members in the same way as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

15 Jealousy – A desire to keep, defend, and bring honor to what is mine.

  • Evil type: (EHV) But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and lie, contrary to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but it is worldly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 In fact, where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and every bad practice.

  • Good type: Psalms 78:58 (EHV) Then they angered him with their high places, and they made him jealous with their idols.

16 Love – a choice to care and provide care, faithfulness, and loyalty.

  • Love’s character traits are a (WEL): Love is longsuffering and kind; love is not envious; love doesn’t brag about itself, is not haughty. It doesn’t behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn’t easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs. It doesn’t rejoice in injustice, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, calmly endures all things. Love never ends.

  • Romans 12:9-10 (EHV): Do not just pretend to love others. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another with brotherly love. Think of others as deserving more honor than yourselves.

17 Mercy – not seeking revenge or advantage of someone.

  • (EHV): Do not just pretend to love others. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another with brotherly love. Think of others as deserving more honor than yourselves.

  • Luke 6:36 (EHV): Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

18 Mission – having a plan to serve and honor God in occupation, marriage, family, church, and society.

  • (EHV): Commit what you do to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

  • Proverbs 14:22-23 (EHV): Don’t those who plan evil go astray? But those who plan to do good find mercy and truth. 23 In all hard work there is gain, but empty talk leads only to poverty.

19 Righteousness – One’s actions and beliefs align with God’s standards (New Testament).

  • (EHV): Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled.

  • James 1:21 (EHV): So after getting rid of all moral filthiness and overflowing wickedness, receive with humility the word planted in you. It is able to save your souls.

20 Truth – What conforms to reality and Scriptures.

Truth is freeing:

  • (EHV) You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 1

  • John 1:6-7 (EHV) If we say we have fellowship with him but still walk in darkness, we are lying and do not put the truth into practice. 7 But if we walk in the light, just as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

21 Anger – An emotional response to violating feelings, thoughts, beliefs, etc. and wanting revenge

  • (EHV) Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.

  • Matthew 5:21-22 (EHV) You have heard that it was said to people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be subject to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will have to answer to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of hell fire.

22 Strength – comes from God to help us live a Christian life

  • (EHV) And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will be glad to boast all the more in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may shelter me.

  • Hebrews 5:2 (EHV) He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also weak in many ways.

  • (EHV) quenched the power of fire, escaped the edges of the sword, were made powerful after being weak, became mighty in battle, and caused foreign armies to flee.