2 Kings 4:9

2 Kings 4:9

This brief, simple statement, taken in its general form, sets forth so far what we ought to be in our own life.

I. "A man of God" a very striking title to give to a human being, and a very grand one, even if for the moment we drop the adjective "holy." And yet is not this the title which every man should be able to adopt and proud to bear? We all come from His creating hand. We live on His beneficence. We are subject to His providence. A great many different kinds of life men can live on the earth, lower and higher, but there is only one best life that which a man may live in God. A man of God should be proud of his title. Other men are proud of theirs the man of the world, the man of letters, the statesman, the man of honour. The man of God should never be ashamed of his name, if only he has the right to bear it.

II. "An holy man of God." Holiness means wholeness.To be holy is to be without disease and without defect, all the parts of the living personality present, all acting harmoniously. Scriptural holiness means keeping in health, and growing in grace, and rising towards the measure of the ultimate perfection in Jesus Christ "a man of God; an holy man of God."

III. Contemplate now the man of God at work. "Behold now an holy man of God, which passeth by us."There can be no health of any kind, physical or moral, without movement. If we want to be men of God, we must do the duties of our life as they come. Let every one remember that there is a round of duty for him, along the track of which no feet but his can walk, a daily task which no hand but his can touch, a life-work that will be undone unless he does it.

IV. "Continually." All the great things in life are produced more by constancy and in quietness than in loudness and by force. Step by step will take you to the end of the longest journey. Duty after duty done, although poorly done many a time, will enable you one day to say with the Master Himself, "It is finished."

A. Raleigh, The Way to the City,p. 104.