We must teach and preach, but our primary influence is through our lives and the example they set. Leadership is influence, and there is no greater influence than our lives. It doesn’t matter how dynamic a preacher may be, example is more powerful than precept. Precept riding on the back of example is more powerful still. So the Bible makes it clear: There is a priority to godliness, a truly surpassing value.

This article is part of the Dear Pastor series.

3 Arguments from Scripture about Prioritizing Godliness

I see three lines of argument emerging from Scripture that together make a compelling case for the priority of godliness in the life of the pastor/preacher.

The first is found in 1 Timothy 4:16. Paul says to the young pastor Timothy, “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.” Notice the sequence—it is not accidental. That sequence represents a priority in Paul’s mind that reflects the priority in God’s mind. Over and over again, Paul spoke like that and lived like that. Yes, the “teaching” is very important. We should watch over it closely, making absolutely sure we are teaching exactly what God has said in his word. Clearly that was a priority in Paul’s ministry. But Paul always led with his life. Consider his words in 1 Thessalonians 2:5–10:

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.

It’s hard to miss what Paul is saying: “You saw what our lives were like! Yes, we watched over the teaching closely, but first we watched over ourselves closely, knowing that if our lives were out of line with the gospel, it would be very hard for you to receive the gospel.” We see this stance repeatedly in Paul’s preaching ministry, and in 1 Timothy 4, he is urging the same priority for Timothy—and for us. Granted, 1 Timothy 4:16 is not, by itself, a conclusive argument. But it points suggestively to the priority of godliness in pastoring and preaching.

This is compellingly supported by a second line of argument, which comes one chapter earlier in 1 Timothy. In this passage, we find the list of qualifications for pastors. Paul offers fourteen specific qualifications. The overwhelming majority of them have to do not with gifting but with character—that is, with personal godliness. Even though they are likely familiar to you, they bear repeating:

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self- controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. More- over, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (1 Tim. 3:1–7)

Thirteen of those qualifications have to do with character. Yes, tucked into the middle of that list is the requirement that the pastor must be “able to teach.” It’s true—we must be able to teach. We must “keep a close watch” on the teaching (1 Tim. 4:16). We must be able to handle God’s word faithfully and effectively. But—and please don’t miss this—there are thirteen other things that also must be true of us, and they all have to do with our character, our godliness. That ratio argues compellingly for the priority of godliness in pastoral ministry generally and in preaching specifically.

A third line of argument for the priority of godliness is the fact that the concept of “example” figures so largely in the New Testament descriptions of pastoral ministry. Peter says it so clearly: “I exhort the elders among you . . . shepherd the flock of God that is among you . . . being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:1–3). Paul says the same thing to Timothy: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example” (1 Tim. 4:12). Paul is saying, “That’s how you pastor, Timothy! Be an example!” And that’s how we pastor—by our example. Yes, exhort and teach, as Paul tells Timothy (1 Tim. 4:13). And don’t neglect our gift (1 Tim. 4:14). But first, always first, set an example!

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