THE MAN OF GOD by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 14, 1889

THE MAN OF GOD.

By Editor

PAUL, in his second letter to Timothy, says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable; . . . that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." We have here a name or title which occurs only in one other place in the Scriptures, viz., 1 Tim. 6:11. It is there applied to Timothy himself. In the passage above quoted it seems to be applied to all true believers. The Christian is then "the man of God." What is meant by this designation? How is he trained for the duties of his position? and what are those duties?

"The man of God." In the old days of slavery we asked a negro in Richmond, "Who do you belong to?" He drew himself up to his full height and replied, "Ise Governor Wise's man." He felt that, though a slave, he was lifted above the common herd by the official position of his master. The same day, in another part of the city, trying to find a gentleman, and thinking that a fine-looking mulatto near his place of business might be one of his servants, we said, "Do you belong to Mr. A.?" "No, sar," he replied, "I belong to God Almighty." We found that this was a somewhat irreverent way the free negroes had of proclaiming their freedom. But that which the mulatto so flippantly asserted is a fact solemnly recognized by every Christian. He is not his own. He belongs to God by the twofold title of creation and redemption. He is a man with all the dignity of that dominion which God gave him over the earth. He is a little lower than the angels. And yet the highest honor and glory of his position is that he is a servant of the Most High—that he waits upon the Lord and delights to do his will. Service is not degrading. Ask the epauletted general, and he will tell you with pride that he belongs to "the service." His superior officer may order him to Arizona or to Alaska to-morrow and he will not hesitate to obey. It is the law of the service that he is to go wherever he is sent. He is not a slave. He has chosen freely to be a soldier, and he meets with manly fidelity the responsibilities of the service. His uniform proclaims what he is and whose he is wherever he goes. He wears it, not as a convict wears his horizontal stripes, but as a king wears his crown. There is no such thing as absolute independence for any creature in the universe. Such independence is a fevered dream of atheism. We all must belong to somebody—children to their parents, citizens to their country, sinners to Satan. Our highest possible place is that of servants of God. For that we were created. We forfeited it by sin. We can be restored to it through Christ. Such restoration ought to be the object of our most ardent wishes and efforts. When secured it should fill us with joy and hope. We have reached the summit of true manliness in becoming the men of God.

But a high position demands corresponding character and culture. Paul tells us where Timothy acquired these and where we all may acquire them. From a child he had known the holy Scriptures. The object of God in inspiring those Scriptures was that his men, his servants, might by "doctrine," "reproof," "correction," and "instruction in righteousness," be "thoroughly furnished." The Christian when he enters the service of the Captain of our salvation is like a raw recruit just enlisted. He has a great deal to learn. But the Bible is his text-book, his drill book, his manual of arms. He must study it constantly. . . . And that is just what Peter says in his second general epistle, "Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue [courage]; and to virtue knowledge." It is a great mistake to think that the man of God has only to believe in Christ, join the church, and go to Heaven when he dies. He is enlisted for a life-long service, and if he is honest in his enlistment he will want to be a good soldier; and here he is told how to become one. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. He must unsheathe it and learn to wield it. The Christian manual of arms is Bible study, with earnest, fervent prayer.—Interior.