10 Characteristics Of A Godly Man

characteristics of a godly man

Did you know there’s a difference between a good man and a godly man? And wouldn’t you want the one you marry to be a godly man?

Yes, ma’am! And I honestly didn’t know until I started my blog.

Since then I have learned what qualities a godly man should have but also what qualities a godly woman should have. So what is the difference?

Well, a good man makes sound decisions, is nice, and loves you based on a worldly standard. A godly man makes wise decisions, is kind, and loves you based on a godly standard.

While both of these men can be great boyfriends, fiancés, and husbands I have learned that discerning between godly men vs. worldly men is important if you want to date with purpose.

When you are looking for a good husband you want to make sure that he shares your faith and conviction with you. To help you spot a God-fearing man, I’m sharing 10 characteristics of a godly man to look for as a single Christian woman.

But before we get started, let’s first look at what is meant by a godly man.

What is meant by a Godly man?

The collins dictionary states that: “A godly person is someone who is deeply religious and shows obedience to the rules of their religion.”.

However, I believe there is much more to being a true man of God or God-seeking than that. It’s about a man’s character, morals, and values and whether he is seeking God’s presence and purpose for his life.

It’s not about being a perfect man, but rather about striving to become more like Christ every day.

But how can you really tell who is a godly person according to the Bible?

Well, you certainly won’t find all the answers in this blog post, but I found a few godly character traits that the Bible repeatedly mentions as traits of a godly man. Once you identify these in your love interest, chances are he is a man of God.

10 Characteristics of a Godly Man

1. Perseverance

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” – James 1:12

So, I personally have a love/ hate relationship with this bible verse. Why? Because persevering is extremely hard. But at the same time, it is extremely crucial.

Without perseverance, you will give up every time you encounter challenges. Which is a problem. Because if there is one thing that I can assure you of, then it’s that life will try you.

Not once, not twice, but several times!

Challenges, setbacks, and flat-out failures will happen, especially in a romantic relationship. And they will test your spirit, your love, and your faith.

Therefore having someone by your side who knows how to persevere is important for you and your future family. Someone that knows that God is good all the time and that everything works together for your good.

Because a Christian man that has perseverance won’t give up at the first sign of resistance. He will be patient and trust God to work on his behalf. And if you are having trouble finding out if the young man you are dating has perseverance, then just watch him in times of stress.

Does he give up quickly and lose all hope? Or does he trust the holy spirit to come through?

2. Focused on God’s Word

“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” – Hebrews 2:1

Nowadays, the topic of submission has become a very sensitive topic for women.

Even though God’s wordclearly calls husbands to be the head of the household, wearing the head of Christ, we oftentimes struggle to “submit”. Read it for yourself.

And while I am not going into detail about this topic, I think there is an easy way to solve that problem.

If you want to ensure that you enjoy submitting to your husband in the future, then the best way to do that is to marry a man that is focused on the word of God.

Look for a man that does not get distracted by false teaching or his own worldly desires. But a man has a personal relationship with God and is committed to following and obeying Christ Jesus.

That way it will be easier for you to submit to him later on in marriage.

what is a good man according to the Bible

3. Generosity

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6

An attitude of giving shows itself in a relationship.

Men of God know that their riches are not earthly but come from God. They have less difficulty letting go of worldly possessions and worry less about money.

They are confident that God can meet their needs and will provide in due time.

To me, generosity is a very important quality of a godly man because I want to be with someone that is a cheerful giver. Not just to me, but also to people in need.

Besides your tithes and offering, you will encounter people that need help. While you certainly don’t have to give all, I do believe that giving blesses the giver just as much as the recipient.

A man that gives generously, attracts people that enjoy giving as well. And a community like that is sure to bless you and your future husband when in need.

4. Responsibility

“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” – Romans 14:12

Being responsible is a prime indicator of maturity and wisdom and therefore one of the more important signs of a godly man.

In a relationship, you will face a lot of situations where someone needs to take charge and make a decision.

A godly man should be willing to do so spirit-led. But also take full responsibility for his actions in hindsight. (And so, should Christian women).

Observe your boyfriend carefully when he is under fire. Does he own it or repeatedly blame it on something/ somebody else?

If he tends to avoid taking responsibility, remember that small decisions now become big decisions later.

In addition, the Bible is very clear that we will all have to face Jesus at one point. We will then have to take responsibility for our actions on earth. And it will be much easier to stand in front of him, well aware of the good and bad we did?

5. Humility

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” – Philippians 2:3-4

There are sooo many reasons why humility may be one of the most important characteristics of a godly man, but reason number one is the following.

One common habit of couples in healthy relationships is that both partners are willing to lay aside selfishness and pride. Instead, they consider the partner’s interest and well-being as important as their own.

That is only possible if both of you can humble yourselves.

A relationship will get challenging and confronting at times. This is why you have to resist the desire to always be right and acknowledge mistakes and weaknesses to solve disputes.

If not, the relationship can turn toxic really quickly.

You want a humble man that can apologize and put your feelings first at times.

6. Honesty

“The Lord detests lying lips but delights in people who are trustworthy.” – Proverbs 12:22

This personality trait of a godly man almost seems like a no-brainer, but it’s worth repeating anyway.

Trust should be at the foundation of every committed relationship. After it is established, you will feel encouraged to open up to each other, invest in each other, and eventually commit to each other.

However, broken trust is a major deal-breaker in relationships.

Lying is undoubtedly the fastest way of breaking that trust. No matter how big or small the lie might be, it leaves a nasty aftertaste and makes you question every following statement.

That’s why honesty is one of the most essential qualities to look for in a godly husband.

Observe his actions in different areas of his life and see if they align with his words. How does he interact with his best friends? Or how does he speak of his co-workers?

Even a tendency to use white lies can become an issue. If he repeatedly uses them to justify his actions, you should have an honest conversation about that.

Thankfully, honesty is something you can spot early on in the relationship. Is he honest about his intentions for you? Does he communicate what his vision for the relationship is?

If you find yourself confused and wondering about your relationship status, then chances are that he is not a man of integrity. And the best thing you can do is take it as a sign from God to let go.

7. Good Communication skills

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” – James 1:19-20

They say: “communication is key”. However, nobody ever explains how to communicate well. Thank God, God does! And who better to learn from than the creator of language himself?

God’s Tip: listen more, speak less, and don’t act out of anger.

Does your boyfriend use this tip in your relationship?

A real man who is self-aware and can communicate well will be able to voice his needs and wants without getting angry or abusive. He will not be controlled by his emotions or pride, but by love.

He will know how to act in order to de-escalate potential arguments and make you feel heard. Because in order to have a successful relationship, couples need to know how to communicate with each other.

Look for a man that talks to you with respect and acts reasonably even when he is agitated.

8. Forgiveness

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”. – Ephesians 4:32

I’m going to be completely honest with you, I’ve struggled with being forgiving in my past. I’ve lost great friendships because of it and it’s one of the few regrets I have.

Every time somebody wronged me, I would cut them off and insist on holding a grudge, regardless of their apology.

But guess what, in a relationship, you will be wronged because neither of you is perfect. The only problem is, you can’t cut them off every time. You must be willing to forgive in order to heal.

That’s why you should look for a man that knows how to forgive and reconcile in times of trouble.

If he is forgiving, it’s a sign that he is compassionate and kind, which are all important in everyday life together.

Make sure that he isn’t the type to hold on to a grudge and be bitter, but instead looks for opportunities to experience joy. After all, forgiveness comes easy if the person is a servant of God.

9. Wisdom

“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.” – Proverbs 3:13

Contrary to popular belief, wisdom isn’t just gained with age but can be found at a younger age too.

How? By emulating the nature of God and listening to wise counsel.

The last thing you want is a man that believes he knows it all and doesn’t have to listen to anyone, including you. This man is full of pride and blinded by his own knowledge.

Instead, you want to be with someone that seeks wisdom by seeking God’s guidance, his word, and a relationship with him.

That man is humble and understands that no matter how much he knows, he doesn’t know it all and needs to rely on God.

10. Fear of God

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1:7

Honestly, I believe this one is the most important characteristic of a godly man in a relationship, because it shows whether the two of you are truly equally yoked.

You see, a man can be all of the characteristics above, but if he doesn’t fear God there is no guarantee that he is not going to change his behavior at one point.

The only, I repeat the only thing that will keep a man in check is if he fears God and lives his life accordingly.

Knowing that God judges our behavior towards each other and sees the things we do in the dark encourages us to live a life of obedience.

Trust me, a man whose desire is to please God and not just himself or you is what you want. A man that doesn’t take being a Christian lightly, but understands the weight of his sins.

Because that’s a man that will treat you right.

What does a Godly man look for in a woman?

All the personality traits mentioned above are great characteristics of a godly man.

However, I challenge you to take it a step further and ask yourself “Are you the person the person you are looking for is looking for?”.

And let me tell you when I first started this blog I was shocked and a little embarrassed. Because I realized the qualities I was looking for in a man, I didn’t even have myself.

The fact is that we attract to us, mirrors of ourselves.

So, if you are living a godly life then you will attract a godly man too. Because a godly man, just like you, is looking for a woman that follows God’s plan and purpose for her life.

So, take a look at the above characteristics of a godly man and find ways to adhere to or improve on those if you desire to be with one.