2008 Woodie Awards
Do you possess the character of a virtuous man?
Fredrick Crawford
Issue date: 9/22/04 Section: In The Spirit
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Have you ever thought, "What is the virtuous man?" The Bible does not distinctly reveal to us the "virtuous" man as it does the virtuous woman. By looking at a few men God used in the Bible (Joseph, David, Job, Paul, and Timothy), a conclusion can be made that a virtuous man is a godly man. Now you may ask, "What is a godly man?" So take a walk with me thru the Bible to reveal the characteristics of a godly man.
To be a godly man, you must first of all confess with your tongue that Jesus is the Son of God and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead so you will be saved (Romans 10:9). This allows you to receive the spirit of God, which separates you from the world as described in I Corinthians 2:12.
The integrity that a man possesses is an important part of being a godly man. Integrity is giving your word and keeping it (Exodus 8:28-32), more valuable than riches (Proverbs 28:6), and it should set an example (Titus 2:7). Even though David sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:1-2), he understood the importance of integrity. David knew that integrity and uprightness would protect him (Psalm 25:21) from bad company whom may corrupt his character.
Integrity is also the faithfulness to moral principles and honesty. There is a saying that, "the way a man thinks, is the way he sees." The major idea in any relationship, whether it be with God, family, or friends is honesty. In order for us men to preach honesty, we must be honest with ourselves. Stop trying to be pimps, players, sugar daddies, sperm donors, etc and be what God needs you to be. Let's give our women something to look forward to instead of stereotypes, lies, and deceits that the African American male tends to bring. A portion of Proverbs 20:6-7 reads, "A faithful man who can find? The just man walks in his integrity..." Many of our black women believe that a good man of integrity is rare or hard to find.
The next characteristic is a man who follows and waits on God. If a man waits upon the Lord, he shall, as the Bible states, "be blessed, inherit the earth, be saved, renew his strength, and receive the glorious things prepared by God." These are just a few blessings from God if you follow and wait on Him. Following and waiting on God is nothing but having indubitable faith that He will take care of you, as long as you stay in His will.
To be a godly man, you must first of all confess with your tongue that Jesus is the Son of God and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead so you will be saved (Romans 10:9). This allows you to receive the spirit of God, which separates you from the world as described in I Corinthians 2:12.
The integrity that a man possesses is an important part of being a godly man. Integrity is giving your word and keeping it (Exodus 8:28-32), more valuable than riches (Proverbs 28:6), and it should set an example (Titus 2:7). Even though David sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:1-2), he understood the importance of integrity. David knew that integrity and uprightness would protect him (Psalm 25:21) from bad company whom may corrupt his character.
Integrity is also the faithfulness to moral principles and honesty. There is a saying that, "the way a man thinks, is the way he sees." The major idea in any relationship, whether it be with God, family, or friends is honesty. In order for us men to preach honesty, we must be honest with ourselves. Stop trying to be pimps, players, sugar daddies, sperm donors, etc and be what God needs you to be. Let's give our women something to look forward to instead of stereotypes, lies, and deceits that the African American male tends to bring. A portion of Proverbs 20:6-7 reads, "A faithful man who can find? The just man walks in his integrity..." Many of our black women believe that a good man of integrity is rare or hard to find.
The next characteristic is a man who follows and waits on God. If a man waits upon the Lord, he shall, as the Bible states, "be blessed, inherit the earth, be saved, renew his strength, and receive the glorious things prepared by God." These are just a few blessings from God if you follow and wait on Him. Following and waiting on God is nothing but having indubitable faith that He will take care of you, as long as you stay in His will.