The Measure of a Man: being sober-minded

The third characteristic listed by Paul in 1 Tim 3 is that of temperance, or sobriety. Literally the Greek term nafalion means "without wine," thus meaning sober or right thinking. Reminds me of Paul's statement to avoid being full of wine and be full of the Spirit (Eph. 5:18).

Getz focuses on "balance." I love what he says on p. 47. "A temperate man doesn't go to extremes. He doesn't get bogged down trying to solve all of the world's problems. . . . . A temperate man doesn't go on emotional entanglements. He relies on God for a sense of inner peace and security, no matter what is happening in life. . . . He has a sense of stability."

In this way, Getz capitalizes on the meaning of nafalion. If wine is an example of being out of control and imbalanced, then the man of God chooses to depend only on that which can bring stability. Stability is not balancing the world and the Word. That is like having one foot on land and the other in a boat moving away from shore.

True Stability is standing on Christ alone, with both feet firmly planted in him. Anything else is sinking sand. The sober-minded will center on the things of Christ above all.

"On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."