Individual Qualities Needed In God’s People

by Chris Simmons

In order for a local body of God’s people to be successful in upholding truth, spreading the Word, edifying its members, and servicing the needs of its members, there are a number of personal qualities that must characterize each of its individual members. The work of the local church is the responsibility of each member, not just the elders and evangelist. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:11-12 that it is the “the saints” who are to be equipped to do “the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” In order for God’s saints to do the work that He has assigned to us to do, the following attributes need to be attained by all.

Knowledge – We are ill equipped to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3), defend our hope (I Peter 3:15), or identify the false teacher if we fail to acquire and pass on complete knowledge of God’s word. We must exercise great diligence to know and accurately handle God’s word (II Timothy 2:15). It only takes one generation to drop the ball and fail to pass on and teach the knowledge needed of God’s will, as we read in Judges 2:10, “there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.” We must never feel as if we can quit studying and growing in our knowledge as demonstrated by Apollos who was already “mighty in the scriptures” but needed to be taught “the way of God more accurately.” If we are not growing in our knowledge, we are falling farther away from our Father even as Peter exhorts us, “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:17-18).

Enthusiasm – The Lord’s church needs members with an intense interest in the success of the Church and its divine mission. Our contention for the faith is to be an earnest one (Jude 3). Part of the Greek word in that verse for “contend earnestly” is “agonizomai” from which we get the English word “agonize”. We need members who agonize over the success of the church and the spiritual condition of their soul and the souls of others. The opposite of enthusiasm is “lukewarmness” and this is clearly intolerable to God as we read the words of Christ in Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” The whole purpose in God providing for our salvation is so that we might zealously do the work God would have us to do. Notice Titus 2:14, “Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” Enthusiasm also means people who fully let their light shine and in no wise restrict the light which we illumine (Matthew 5:16).

Dependability – As the Lord’s church is described as a body, we must be members of the body that can be counted on. The human body functions properly when all of the members do their part dependably. How does this apply to us? To begin with, when a congregation has agreed to assemble, can we be counted on to be there and contribute to the worship service and Bible study (cf., Hebrews 10:23-25)? When we are assigned a particular task or responsibility within a congregation, whether it be to teach a Bible class, prepare the Lord’s supper, or clean the place of worship, can we be counted on to get the job done? Dependability is the quality expressed by Isaiah the prophet after God asked “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Isaiah replied “Here am I. Send me!” and then throughout the remainder of the book he fulfilled his promise.

Courage – Circumstances will undoubtedly arise when we will be challenged by fear. The Lord’s church needs members who take mental control of their fear and get the job done regardless. Aware of the potential for Joshua’s leadership to be limited by fear in the Israelites conquest of the promised land, God exhorted Joshua in Joshua 1:6-7, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.” There will be times when doing according to all that God has commanded will require great strength and courage despite whatever impending circumstances we may face. We are promised some degree of trials and tribulations as Christians, courage will allow us to overcome. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Initiative – Work doesn’t get done when there isn’t one to see all that there is to do. God’s people need to be those that see the opportunities and take the initiative to take advantage of them. “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law” (Proverbs 29:18). The child of God who has initiative is the one who sees the spiritual work to be done, plans and takes action accordingly. Christ said in John 4:35, “Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” Nehemiah showed such initiative when he saw the work that needed to be done, and led the Jews as they “put their hands to the good work” (Nehemiah 1:17-18).

We must never forget to keep God at the center of our initiative and our plans. “The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives. Commit your works to the LORD, And your plans will be established.”

For God’s people to be useful and fruitful, these qualities must be ours and ever increasing (cf., II Peter 1:8).