As human beings, we are all called to live a life of purpose and meaning. For men, this includes striving to develop godly character and living a life that is pleasing to God. In a world that often values success and achievement above all else, it’s essential to remember that true success comes from cultivating godly character traits.
This is why the topic of characteristics of a godly man is so relevant and significant. In this article, we will explore the key characteristics of a godly man according to the Bible. By the end of this post, you can expect to have a better understanding of what it means to be a godly man and practical ways to develop these characteristics in your own life.
I. Definition of a Godly Man
The Bible provides a clear definition of what it means to be a godly man. Being a godly man goes beyond mere outward actions and involves cultivating a heart that is aligned with God’s will. It means living a life that is characterized by obedience to God’s commands and a desire to please Him above all else. Developing godly character is essential because it sets us apart from the world and enables us to fulfill our purpose as men.
Unlike worldly standards, which often prioritize material success and personal gain, godly character values qualities such as humility, love, and integrity. The Bible provides numerous references to support this definition, including verses such as Psalm 15:1-2, Proverbs 10:9, and 1 Timothy 6:11-12. These verses emphasize the importance of developing godly character and living a life that is pleasing to God.
II. General Characteristics Of A Godly Man
In the Bible, there are several characteristics that are attributed to a godly man. Here are some of them:
- Fear of God: A godly man is one who fears the Lord and seeks to live a life that is pleasing to Him. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
- Humility: A godly man is humble and recognizes that he is not perfect. He seeks to learn from others and is willing to admit when he is wrong. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
- Love: A godly man is characterized by love for God and for others. He seeks to serve others and put their needs before his own. 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
- Faith: A godly man has faith in God and trusts in His promises. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
- Integrity: A godly man is honest and has a strong sense of moral values. He lives a life of integrity and is true to his word. Psalm 15:2 says, “He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart.”
- Wisdom: A godly man seeks wisdom and understanding from God. He seeks to apply God’s Word to his life and make wise decisions. Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
- Patience: A godly man is patient and trusts in God’s timing. He does not give up easily and perseveres through difficult times. James 1:4 says, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
These are just a few of the many characteristics that are attributed to a godly man in the Bible.
III. 9 Godly Character Traits To Look For In A Man
As we enter God’s school, one of the accomplishments we begin to focus on is becoming a Godly person.
Developing a character like Jesus’s.
Developing our greatest human potential.
But what exactly are the Characteristics of a Godly Person?
Today, I would like to share with you a non-exhaustive list of nine of them.
Bible Verse about the Characteristics Of A Godly Man
To do so, I invite you to read a short bible text:
(…) I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1 -3
In these Bible verses, the apostle Paul is addressing the church members of the city of Ephesus.
In it, he asks them to continue to develop the qualities of a Godly character.
I will mention nine qualities, or Characteristic of a Godly Person, that can be found in these verses explicitly and implicitly.
1 | Faithfulness
The first Characteristic Of A Godly Man in the Bible is faithfulness.
When the apostle invites us to live a life worthy of the calling we have received, he is basically inviting us to be faithful to God.
Faithfulness means not forgetting where God has brought us from, not forgetting His goodness and mercy towards us, and ultimately not forgetting our calling.
To live in a way that is consistent with who we are in God, without turning away from Him.
This is one of the most important Characteristics of a Godly Person because, if we choose to turn away from God, there is no Christian character to be developed.
2 | Humility
The second Characteristic Of A Godly Man in the Bible is humility.
Nowadays, I seem to notice that humility is less and less appreciated.
We live in a culture that encourages us to brag about our achievements, appearance, lifestyle, social position, etc.
In contrast, God wants us to always be humble.
That is, willing for God to be the one who shines in our lives, and not to seek to shine for ourselves.
To live a life that is not interested in belittling anyone, or in considering ourselves superior to others.
A life in which we are willing to be uncomfortable for the sake of others, even to endure offenses for the name of Christ.
Humility is fundamental in becoming a Godly person because it keeps us having the right perspective.
It constantly reminds us that all the good in us is a gift from God, not a byproduct of our ego.
3 | Kindness
The third Characteristic Of A Godly Man in the Bible is kindness.
Kindness means treating others with proper respect and consideration.
It means remembering that each person carries in himself the image of God and that his intrinsic value is, therefore, equal to mine.
In this way, treating others with kindness and empathy, without projecting on them our frustrations and wounds, is proof that our process of inner healing is advancing, and that we are adequately becoming Godly people.
4 | Patience
The fourth Characteristic Of A Godly Man in the Bible is patience.
In an age when we are increasingly encouraged to have what we want instantly, patience begins to be forgotten as something relevant.
However, an important Characteristic of a Godly Person is the ability to wait and endure situations that are difficult for us, without losing calm, without reacting in a way that hurts others.
Patience reminds us that in the end, God is in control and that we can trust Him, even if things don’t seem to develop as we think they should.
5 | Tolerance
The fifth Characteristic Of A Godly Man in the Bible is tolerance.
In a world that is increasingly polarized, in which we are less and less willing to accept that the other is and thinks differently from me, God asks us to understand that diversity is also an expression of His creativity.
He asks us to remember that we don’t always have to agree in order to love each other, but that we can respect and love each other despite our differences.
The development of tolerance is also part of the process of becoming a Godly Person, leading us to mature and be less impulsive.
It leads us to realize that we don’t need to constantly defend ourselves, and that we can more easily forgive by not taking things personally.
6 | Love
The sixth Characteristic Of A Godly Man in the Bible is love.
The apostle invites us to relate to one another in love.
Love has always been and will forever remain the foundation of all that exists.
Although we love imperfectly, God wants us to develop the ability to love others.
A simple reason for this is because He loves them too.
Born in Christ, we are children of the same father and therefore brothers.
Not loving our brothers is unnatural.
So developing love in our character is just natural, and yet essential.
God is love, He wants us to join Him in his essence so that we can enjoy full healing, freedom, and happiness.
7 | Perseverance
The seventh Characteristic Of A Godly Man in the Bible is perseverance.
When the apostle Paul tells us to “Make every effort”, he is reminding us of one quality of the Godly person that is often not considered, perseverance.
Walking with God requires tenacity because it’s not always something easy to do.
We’re going to have to fight tough battles with our own weaknesses and desires.
Sometimes other people are going to get us into trouble, or life itself is going to mistreat us.
The good news is that in all these difficult things, God has promised to strengthen us, take care of us, and guide us.
He is our strength, it is up to us to persevere.
8 | Unity
The eighth Characteristic Of A Godly Man in the Bible is unity.
God wants us to seek to live in spiritual unity.
Together, all believers are part of the same body, the body of Christ.
We are called to the same mission, to help people reconcile themselves to God.
If we are not united in purpose, we cannot efficiently carry out the task entrusted to us, so one of the characteristics of a Godly Person is unity.
God does not want us to live in disputes or fights, but to seek to be united in the midst of diversity.
9 | Peace
The ninth Characteristic Of A Godly Man in the Bible is peace.
The Bible calls Jesus “the peace”, it also tells us that God is a God of peace.
It is only natural that as we draw closer to God, we look like Him.
Being a Godly person also includes the search for peace in the midst of differences.
In the midst of attacks, a Christian who has developed peace is willing to put his ego aside, and to take refuge in the source of peace to find tranquility.
In Jesus’ words, blessed are the peacemakers because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
III. Conclusion
These are the nine Characteristics Of A Godly Man that I wanted to share on this occasion.
I highly recommend that you have a look at these two books that can help you in your process of becoming a Godly person: Man Up-Becoming a godly man in an ungodly world by Jody Burkeen and Habits of a Godly Woman by Joyce Meyer.
Also, please have a look at our blog post about How to be a better person.
I hope these words have been a blessing to your life.
What do you think? What are the Characteristics Of A Godly Man? Share in the comments.
A hug, God bless you.
