Early this morning as I was reading the Bible, I lighted upon the following verse which gives a brief description of the apostle Barnabas.
Act 11:24 – For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
As I mused on this profound statement, I concluded that I would rest satisfied if the only words spoken at my funeral were, “he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.” Many nice things are frequently said of a man at his funeral, but they are often either not true, exaggerated, or are vain and worthless from an eternal perspective. He was an interesting man…he was a fun man…he was a funny man…he was a productive man…he was an intelligent man…he was a strong man…he was a wealthy man…he was a family man…he was a talented man…he was a gregarious man… he was a charismatic man…he was a company man…he was a witty man…he was a handy man…he was a man’s man…he was a powerful man…he was an influential man―all of those laudations are fine, and even commendable in their place, but all of them added together don’t amount to anything compared to, “he was a good man.”
The scripture describes a good man as a man whose “steps…are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way” (Psa 37:23). Furthermore, the Bible states that a good man “sheweth favour, and lendeth [and] guide[s] his affairs with discretion” (Psa 112:5), “obtaineth favour of the LORD” (Pro 12:2), “leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children” (Pro 13:22), “shall be satisfied from himself” (Pro 14:14), “out of the good treasure of [his] heart bringeth forth good things” (Mat 12:35), is “full of the Holy Ghost and of faith” (Act 11:24), and that friends would die for him (Rom 5:7).
Therefore, a good man will be generous towards the poor, yet wise when helping them; will be blessed of the LORD; will manage and save his money so that he has enough to leave not only to his children, but also to his grandchildren; will not depend on others nor on material wealth for his satisfaction; will treasure up good in his heart and bring it forth for the benefit of others in due time; will be full of the Holy Spirit and faith; and will have friends who love him so dearly that they would lay down their lives for him.
Like Barnabas, a good man is full of the Holy Ghost. His life exhibits the fruit of the Spirit such as “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Gal 5:22-23) and “righteousness and truth” (Eph 5:9). He walks in the Spirit and does not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal 5:16). He is “filled with the Spirit” by “let[ting] the word of Christ dwell in [him] richly in all wisdom” (Eph 5:18-19 c/w Col 3:16).
Like Barnabas, a good man is also full of faith. He believes that “[God] is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6). He believes in God’s promises even when they are slow in fulfillment, and he trusts in His provision even when things look dismal. He does what God says even when worldly wisdom would suggest otherwise. Like Job, his resolve is, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him” (Job 13:15).
A higher compliment could not be paid to a man than that it be said of him at the end of his days, “he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.” But far more important than hearing the preacher proclaim those words at one’s funeral is hearing God declare as much on Judgment Day when He will say to His faithful children who did their best with the talents that He gave them, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Mat 25:21).
