50 things that make the life of a servant of God exemplary

By Robin Sam

If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed (1 Timothy 4:7).

What is the mark of a good minister of God? What are his attributes? How would be his heart condition? What should he focus on in his preaching? Let’s find out.

Gleaned from Apostle Paul’s 1^st epistle to Timothy.  

1. He will be a man who would zealously guard the true doctrine of the Bible (1:3; 4:7).
2. He will strictly avoid profane and idle babblings the world vainly calls knowledge (1:4; 6:20).
3. He will have a pure heart, a clear conscience and a genuine faith (1:5).
4. He knows God gives him the strength to do his work and will always be ready to serve Him (1:12).
5. He will know the purpose of Christ’s birth and be saved from sin (1:15).
6. He will be man of peace and be a prime example of God’s patience with sinners (1:16).
7. He will be zealous about the Name and glory of God and fight His battles (1:18).
8. He will be a man of prayer. He will pray for all (2:2).
9. He will know the importance of a quiet and peaceable life marked by godliness and dignity (2:2).
10. He will be free from anger and any sort of controversy (2:8).
11. His life will be above the reproach of men (3:1).
12. If married, he will be faithful to his wife (3:2).
13. He will have self-control, live wisely and have a good reputation (3:2).
14. He will be glad to host people at his home (3:2).
15. He will be a teacher (3:2).
16. He will abstain from alcohol and violence (3:3).
17. He will have a gentle demeanour, not quarrel and not love money (3:3).
18. He will manage his family well (3:4)
19. He will teach his children to respect and obey him (3:4).
20. He will be a seasoned believer (3:6).
21. Even those who are not believers will speak well of him (3:7).
22. He will be known for his integrity (3:8).
23. He will be committed to the faith (3:9).
24. He knows how to consecrate things by the Word of God and prayer (4:5).
25. Although he is a teacher, he himself will be nourished by the message of faith and good teaching (4:6).
26. He knows the importance of training in godliness as it promises benefits in this world and the world to come (4:8).
27. His hope is not in men but in the living God, the Saviour of all people (4:10).
28. He will be a teacher who insists his brethren learn the spiritual disciplines (4:11; 6:2).
29. He will not let anyone despise his youth (4:12).
30. His life, his love, his faith and his purity will be examples to others (4:12).
31. He will give himself over to reading the Bible, teaching and encouraging believers (4:13).
32. He will not neglect his spiritual gift (4:14).
33. He will constantly examine his life and his doctrine (4:16).
34. He will be true to what is right because of his salvation and that of the others (4:16).
35. He will not speak harshly to an older man but deal with him respectfully (5:1).
36. He will treat older women as he would his own mother (5:2).
37. He will treat younger women like they were his own sisters (5:2).
38. He will take care of widows who are destitute (5:3).
39. He will not be quick to judge others without evidence and witnesses (5:19).
40. He will deal openly and sternly with those who sin in the church (5:20).
41. He will take time to appoint leaders in the church (5:22).
42. He knows true godliness with contentment is great wealth (6:6).
43. He will run away (like Joseph) from evil things (6:11).
44. He will pursue righteousness and a godly life along with faith, love, perseverance and gentleness (6:11).
45. He will fight the good fight for the true faith (6:12).
46. He will obey God’s command without wavering (6:14).
47. He will live so no one can find fault with him (6:14).
48. He will teach the rich not to rely on their riches (6:17).
49. He will tell the rich to employ their wealth to do good works (6:18).
50. He will guard what has been entrusted to him (6:20).