Observations on the Character of a Minister

“But you know his proven character” – Philippians 2:22a

The word “minister” means servant. A minister of the Lord is His servant. That should be reflected in the way the minister serves. Our Master is compassionate, gracious and loving, but He is also Holy and Almighty. We serve a Mighty God. Is that reflected in the way we serve as ministers?

Character is reflected in the way a minister serves. Character must be proven (Rom. 5:3-4). When Paul spoke of Timothy he spoke of his “proven character” (Philippians 2:19-22). Paul exhorted the Corinthians to examine themselves to see where they were with the Lord. Ministers especially should regularly examine themselves concerning their character (e.g. 2 Cor. 13:5).

The following are some observations concerning the character of one in ministry. What is the example and model being presented by one in ministry? A minister should take the lead in being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29). As you look at these areas ask yourself: What is Jesus like in these areas? What were His disciples and apostles like in these areas? What does the Bible teach us about the character of a minister?

The minister’s attitude. The minister should do all they do as unto the Lord. This means their heart and soul is in everything they do no matter how small or large, important or trivial, etc. (Colossians 3:17, 23-24). It is not a matter of what you are doing as much as it is how you do whatever you do. Jesus “did all things well” (Mark 7:37). If we are crucified with Christ and it is no longer us who live but Jesus lives in us, then that should be reflected in our attitude and the way we carry ourselves in life (cf. Gal. 2:20). What does this area of your life communicate to others?

The minister and time. You can’t lead from the rear. The one in ministry seeking to lead should be first to rise, first to arrive, and first to serve. You can’t lead from a bed. Romans 13:11 states, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”

You can’t lead if you’re late. A shepherd leads from the front. He steps out and his sheep follow. If he sleeps, they will sleep. They will follow him for good or bad.

Time is important to God. The word “time” occurs 771 times in 698 verses. The phrase “the time” occurs 155 times in 151 verses. There is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1f.). Jesus came “when the fullness of time had come” (Gal. 4:4).

Our time is short (Psalm 89:47). The psalmist prayed and asked God to “Teach us to number our days” (Psalm 90:12). Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” (John 9:4).

No one can or will follow someone who is late or last to arrive. A minister must redeem the time (Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5). What does this area of your life communicate to others?

The minister and work. A minister should be a model of diligence and work. “For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God” (1 Thess. 2:9; cf. also Acts 20:17-19, 34-35). A minister should make every effort to assure that they are hard-working and that the Lord is getting His monies’ worth from their labor.

A hard worker will stand before kings (Proverbs 22:29). The Bible says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

The greatest labor for a minister, is laboring diligently in the study of God’s word - “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). This should be a labor of love for the minister. “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97; cf. also Psalm 119:113, 119, 127, 159, 163, 165).

Ministers should also be people who work at prayer. Paul wrote the Thessalonians to pray nonstop (1 Thess. 5:17). The prophetess Anna was a prayer warrior who prayed night and day (Luke 2:37). Paul warned the Ephesians night and day for three years (Acts 20:31). No doubt that labor included a great deal of “night and day praying” (1 Thess. 3:10; 2 Tim. 1:3). If widows are exhorted to pray “night and day,” how much more should ministers of the word of God?! (1 Tim. 5:5). Jesus told us to pray and not give up (Luke 18:1ff.). We need to apply ourselves to prayer.

The Bible speaks very clearly warning against idleness and disorder in life. Listen to what Paul was inspired to write – 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 – ^“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,  that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, ⁹ not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. ¹¹ For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. ¹² Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. ¹³ But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴ And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

As a minister we are called to a high standard. When you read the above passage, how do you measure up? What does this area of your life communicate to others?

The minister and people. A minister has a balanced relationship with people. He does not put pleasing people before pleasing God (Acts 5:29; Gal. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:4). But he does have compassion on people and seek to serve the Lord by serving people. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). That is the way of the Master. The minister has a passion to win the lost people of the world to Christ (2 Cor. 5:14-21).

A minister, like His Master, is not a respecter of people (Luke 20:21). But a minister, like the Master, is respectful toward people. He is not rude or interrupting (1 Cor. 13:5; 1 Peter 3:15-16). He listens when people speak. He does not think his conversation is more important than another’s. He esteems others as better than himself (Phil. 2:3) He has the mind of Christ toward people (Phil. 2). Therefore he is attentive when someone is speaking. A minister is a good listener.

A minister does not get caught up in “profane and idle babblings” (2 Tim. 2:16). He does not quarrel for the sake of quarreling. Quarreling is not a sport for him. “A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:24-26).

The standard for conversation is, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Eph. 4:29). The minister is free to enter into casual conversation, but when casual conversation becomes the rule rather than the exception the minister is caught up in trivialities and becomes known as a trivial person. This hinders the minister’s use and effectiveness. The minister should be respected as one that is worth talking to; someone who is going to be used by the Lord to edify and build up those being spoken to.

A minister loves people with a Christlike love (John 13:35; 2 Cor. 5:14-21; 1 John 3:10-18; 4:7-12). The love of a minister to a person is not merely sentimental. It does not compromise truth for the sake of avoiding hurt feelings. The standard of the minister is to speak truth in love (Eph. 4:15). A minister seeks the greatest effect of love; eternal life, salvation, and holiness of life.

If you’re a minister these are areas to examine in your life. The minister’s objective is to glorify God in all they do. Therefore our ongoing prayer should be, Lord, make me all I need to be to do all You’ve called me to do, for Your glory, until You return. Let’s make that our prayer and may He bless us with the right attitude, disciplined time management, a diligent work ethic, and a love for His people. God bless your ministry.