“The Best Of Men Are Men At Best”
Issues – July/August 2023 – Grace & Truth Magazine
“The Best Of Men Are Men At Best”*
“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine” (1 Tim. 5:17 NKJV ). Yet, we must be careful not to idolize such persons – even great servants of God – for they still have human limitations. A few examples make a startling point:
- Eli, the high priest, got it wrong. When Hannah was praying, he thought she was drunk (1 Sam. 1:12-16).
- Samuel got it wrong. He felt that Eliab, the oldest son of Jesse, would be God’s chosen king rather than David (16:1-6).
- David got it wrong. When he went to kill Nabal and all the men of his household, he was corrected by Nabal’s wife, who pointed out the damage that such a vengeful act would do (25:13-34).
- Nathan got it wrong. He approved of David’s plan to build a house for God. The LORD directed Nathan to return and let David know that Solomon would build the temple instead (2 Sam. 7:1-13).
Be careful not to overly respect anyone. In fact, we should resist any tendency to idolize those whose ministry we appreciate, whose instruction we benefit from, and whose prophetic word we observe (see 1 Cor. 3:4-7). Perfection is found in our Lord Jesus Christ alone, while “the best of men are men at best.” The appropriate advice that may be given regarding those who minister to us as servants of the Lord is, “Brethren, pray for us” (1 Th. 5:25).
A Balance
Oh yes, when it comes to “the best of men are men at best” we should not forget to seriously examine ourselves as to the estimate of our own grandeur. The apostle Paul addressed this matter in saying we should “not think of [ourselves] more highly than [we] ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3). Having examined ourselves, we are reminded that others should be taking the advice noted above when they look at us!
ENDNOTE
* J.C. Ryle
By G. H. B.