We want Godly men in our lives and communities, but we don’t know what characteristics they have. Is there anything other than loving God and your neighbors? What about being a Godly man at work? There are so many questions about this and it’s hard to find definite answers.
If you are a man trying to live a life that is pleasing to God, this is the right place for you. If you are a woman trying to determine what qualities of men are Godly, please read on!
We have Scriptures from the Bible to guide us but sometimes we just need some extra help. I used to feel the same, but I found 10 Godly man characteristics that helped me.
Godly Men Characteristics – 10 Effective Disciplines
1. Showing An Example
2. Speaking Truth
3. Staying Strong
4. Staying Humble
5. Serving God
6. Saying Sorry
7. Striving For Purity
8. Soft Heart
9. Strengthen Bonds
10. Shows Discipline
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1. Shows By Example
As Christian men, you have to lead by example. Choosing to act instead of being passive. Always assume responsibility at the right time. The Bible talks about being responsible, working hard, showing love for Christ, and having integrity.
Be Responsible
“He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.” 1 Corinthians 3:8
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
Work Hard
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15
Shows Love For God
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
Has Integrity
“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” Proverbs 11:3
2. Speaks Truth
Jesus said that He is “the way, the truth, and the life”. Similarly, you are to also uphold these truths in the words you use as Godly men. Choose to carry Christian principles and values especially if they are unpopular. This way, your words will bring life to others.
Use Words Wisely
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29
Keeps A Sharp Mind
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
Speaks Life With His Words
“So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say.” Numbers 14:28
“If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth!” Proverbs 30:32
3. Staying Strong
It is hard to stand strong in the face of attacks. The Bible says that “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” As Christian men, challenges and attacks are almost guaranteed in your future. Don’t worry, these are some simple steps to stay strong in God.
Obeying God
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” John 14:23
Seeking And Filled With The Holy Spirit
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:18-19
Never Giving Up
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Showing Wisdom
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” James 3:13
4. Staying Humble
When you’re in a position of Godly leadership, it is really hard to be humble. While planning, delegating tasks, and preparing for on-stage serving, occasionally you may forget that Jesus was first and foremost a servant. What does it mean to stay humble?
Does Not Exalt Self
“Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.” Proverbs 27:2
Is A Servant
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
Respects Others
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10
5. Serving The King
As Godly men, you know that your only purpose on Earth is to serve the true King. Although you may have life commitments such as work and family, it complements the original purpose of serving God. Things that seem hard at first become easy when you remind yourself that it all works together for His good.
God Comes First
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
Produces Godly Fruit In His Life
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15: 5-8
Devotes Himself To God
“And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.” 1 King 8:61
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9
6. Saying Sorry
You may think that saying sorry means weakness. In the eyes of God, saying sorry shows true strength to admit sins and receive forgiveness. As Godly men, you should always be first to say sorry as an example to other Christian brothers.
Repents After Sinning
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:19
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
Considers Himself Dead To Sin
“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32
Is Open And Honest About Sin
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
“I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.” Psalm 38:18
7. Striving For Purity
The world has been telling you that it is alright for men to be sexually active before and outside of marriage, but the Bible says that it is wrong. To remain upright before God, men must be pure in their words and deeds. It has many lesser-known benefits to your life.
Honors God With His Body
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
Lives in Sexual Purity
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18
Remains Pure-Hearted
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
Has A Chaste Life
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18
Loves His Wife As Christ Loves The Church
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” Ephesians 5:25
8. Soft Heart
At the core of a Godly man is a soft heart. Although you may have been told to “man up” or scolded for revealing feelings, a Godly heart is not like that. A soft heart is generous in love, forgiving, and always sincere.
Generous And Giving Without Complaint
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Helpful
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16
Forgiving
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13
Sincere
“Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.” 2 Corinthians 1:12
Loves Others
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4: 7-8
9. Strengthens Bonds
As loving as you may be, it is hard to live it out as Godly men unless you have relationships with others. The importance of loving (and even trying to love) others is how you become Godly. Choose to honor God in all relationships, even if you are in church or outside.
Planted In Church
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” 1 Corinthians 1:10
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” Acts 4:32
Being Godly At All Times
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8
Having Godly Friends
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Acts 1:14
10. Shows Discipline
Discipline sounds like a lot of sweat and tears. However, bear in mind that God does not want you to live a life of bondage. Jesus came to save us from life like that! The Bible tells us that you live a life of discipline because God first loves you.
Discipline Of Mind
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
Discipline Of Devotion
“I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 7:35
Discipline Of Integrity
“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” Proverbs 11:3
Discipline Of Tongue
“You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:34-37
Discipline Of Work
“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” Ephesians 4:28
“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.” Proverbs 12:11
Discipline Of Perseverance
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
If you would like to read on books about discipline as Godly men, you can read more about them here!
What Is The Significance Of Being A Godly Man
Romans 3:10 states, “There is no one righteous, not even one”. Hence, being a Godly man is not about being perfect. That is the worldly standard of “perfectionism”, which can lead to anxiety and depression.
In the Bible and our church communities, we see men who are broken. The difference is that these men still strive to Jesus’ standards despite their brokenness. We can also see how their lives transform when they choose to live like Jesus.
Imitating Christ
Godly living is through making mistakes, repenting from sins, and living a life that is free from sin. This puts us on a path of spiritual growth that can be seen in your family, work, and ministry life.
The Bible repeats the same message over and over again: You receive salvation through Jesus Christ. As a result of that salvation, you then strive to live as Jesus did. Salvation comes before action. There is no performance or hitting key performance targets (KPIs) here.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
Supporting Integrity
In the first characteristic of a Godly man, I write about living with integrity. The Bible scripture repeats how important it is to uphold God’s laws in all areas of your life. How does it show?
Godly living shows in the fruit produced in our lives. This includes the strength of relationships, richness of influence, and submission at work. Do you wish to be fruitful?
“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” Matthew 7:16
Following God’s Perfect Order
To work as God designed, you have to follow his spiritual order. Again, I will emphasize that this is not the “perfectionism” of worldly standards. God’s order refers to his main commandments in the Bible.
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22: 37-38
Firstly, love God by being his humble and obedient servant. Secondly, love others in your life such as your wife, family, colleagues, team members, and church members. The circle of love and influence starts with God.
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7 Things Godly Men Say
Speak God’s Truth
This is not just about honesty – speaking God’s truth means that you spread his Words. Paul commands Timothy to teach Scripture in his letters. However, his instruction goes beyond Timothy to all men.
“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” 1 Timothy 4:13
Speaking God’s truth means that you also know and understand God’s truth. Meditate upon his Word and show how this reflects in your life. Men of truth are wise, grounded in Scripture, and always happy to speak God’s truth.
Speak Truth At All Times
This part is about honesty. Although men of the world are tempted to cover up their ways or sideline the truth sometimes, it is not the way of a man of God. If you tell white lies to gain success at work, that is not living by God’s commands.
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:25
To be honest, there will be a cost when you are honest at all times. You may have to sacrifice and suffer. However, the sweet fruit of living a life like Jesus will also give you wonderful blessings.
Building Up Others With Truth
Do your words build up or tear others down? It is easy to forget that words can be cutting and hurtful, especially when spoken in impatience.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6
Likewise, as Godly men, let your words flow with knowledge and understanding. In his book “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, Dale Carnegie says that the first rule he lives by is never to criticize others. Although it sounds simple, it is not something that is easily done.
Of course, there are times when we need to rebuke other Christian believers. This is then done in love and not in haste, with patience and not with anger.
Avoid Foolishness
Words can also corrupt others when we use them thoughtlessly or impatiently. Over time, it can easily turn into a habit that you no longer notice when you do it (think about liking social media posts that contain rude words). You may even find justifications for it.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29
Being a Godly example means cutting out the habit of using words to tear others down. Plant them intentionally to love, build up, and grow others instead!
Speaks Gratefulness
Frankly, it is easier to complain. I’ve done it when I was unhappy with work and found that eventually the complaints corrode into other areas of life and affect my relationships with colleagues.
Being thankful means that you stay in a state of thankfulness, singing praise to God all the time. You are so thankful that the words you speak always revolve around God. Perhaps people in your life will start complaining that you are too grateful all the time!
Speaks Gentleness
In spiritual leadership, men who are Godly may find yourself in the position of having to correct others. This is because there is no room for sin and errors to be uncorrected in God’s ministry. However, correction must be done the Godly way too.
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.” Galatians 6:1
It can be an easy open-and-shut case to be tough, rough, or brutal when you correct someone who sins. However, the strength and courage to do it lovingly is even greater! The purpose remains to instill peace in all relationships that you have.
Refuses To Boast
Social media is a filter that captures the best memories, moments, and relationships for show. Sometimes you fall into the rhythm of doing the same, only talking about your successes and wins. This is what Paul tells us about what we should talk about.
“Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:31
Instead, talk about your failures and low moments in life. This vulnerability, mentioned by Brené Brown, unites relationships. God will take center stage when you are willing to talk about overcoming challenges you face. Speech like this boasts more about God instead of the self.
How To Find A Godly Man
There are a lot of men who claim to be Christians but live their lives far from God. What are some signs that they may not be Godly men? Check to see if he reads the Bible daily, prays, or understands what God says about important topics.
I used to think that it was the same whether I dated a Christian or not. Then, I realized that it was very hard to be in a loving relationship with God, and yet have a partner who did not know Him or acknowledge Him. It was lonely indeed to be in God’s truth but be unable to share it with a partner that you consider as important in life!
Here are ten places where you can meet a Godly man:
- Church or church ministries
- Online dating apps for Christians
- Friend introductions
- Joining a club or gathering
- At work
- Volunteer work
- Actively attending social events
- Christian conferences or events
- The grocery store
- Coffee shops or restaurants
Pray to God as you seek your future husband, and trust that God will provide (or shower you with blessings as you wait upon the Lord).
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does It Mean To Be Godly Men?
Being godly is not equal to living a perfect life but, it is striving to live as Christ-like as humanly possible. It is an inward devotion that is outwardly displayed. This includes having characteristics such as leading by example, speaking the truth, staying strong, being humble, and others.
What Makes A Man A Godly Man?
The individual man who loves God and believes in the Almighty with his purest intention is a Godly man. Spending time with God and forming spiritual connections are important to him. God is above and beyond a friend, a guide, and a confidant.
How Do You Know If He Is A Godly Man?
He is an individual man who loves God and believes in the Almighty with his purest intention. This makes him a Godly man who will choose God above all else. He is a humble servant to God firstly, and a loving companion to you and in all of his relationships secondly. This is aligned with God’s two greatest commandments.
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