If one is going to be an expositor of the Scriptures, then he must exemplify the characteristics of a godly man. No person will listen to a man whose character is flawed with sin or an attitude of “I don’t care.” We must take our work seriously and this begins with our character. Paul wrote, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:12 NASB95). It is my goal to share with you three characteristics that should be implemented in the expositor’s life. One is love. The other is integrity. The last one is longsuffering.
If one wants to be an expositor of the Scriptures, he must have a loving character. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NASB95). The main point is without love, one can profit nothing. We can keep the letter of the law, but if we lose the spirit of the law then we gain nothing. We can do everything right and still lack love. We must heed the admonition that says, “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:15 NASB95).
If one wants to be an expositor of the Scriptures, he must have integrity. God takes no pleasure in a man who lies or compromises. The scripture earlier said, “speaking the truth in love.” Just like we can do things without love, one may do things lovingly without truth. There must be a balance. Our admonition is to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). So many times, it can be that a once faithful proclaimer of truth can fall prey to damnable heresy. I’m not speaking about matters of academic pursuit, but core doctrines that cannot change. This not only goes in doctrine, but how the expositor carries himself on a daily basis. A man who doesn’t fulfill his duties and fails on his promises will not fall in a good light with God. May we take heed that our integrity is able to stand so that others can properly be led to eternity.
If one wants to be an expositor of the Scriptures, he must be longsuffering. Longsuffering may also be translated as patience. For example, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2 NASB95). We cannot be true ministers of the gospel if we are too brash or too hasty in our attitude with people. Our Lord spent three years with the apostles, and they still were not to the point where they should have been. They did eventually learn more and trust more in their lives after Jesus’ death. We have to remember that not everyone is at the point that we are at, and some are older and wiser than we may presume. Please be patient with people and not so quick to make a judgment. That would be unrighteous judgment (John 7:24).
It is my prayer that we keep on adding these characteristics in our lives so that we may proclaim the excellencies of our Awesome God. This task is very important and may our character match our heart. Let us remember that our labor is not in vain in the Lord. Paul wrote, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB95).