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In 1 Kings 13, we find the story of a man of God sent by the Lord to deliver a message to King Jeroboam. This man faithfully carried out God’s command, confronting the king and rejecting any reward or hospitality. However, on his way back, he was deceived by an old prophet who falsely claimed to have a new word from God. Trusting the prophet’s title and status, the man of God disobeyed God’s original command, which ultimately led to his death.
This story gives us a strong lesson about the danger of placing our trust in someone simply because of their TITLE or POSITION. The man of God received a clear word from God but allowed the old prophet’s status to sway him from his path of obedience. Titles, whether they are “prophet,” “pastor,” “archbishops”, “Reverend Ministers” or any other leadership role, do not always guarantee truth or integrity. What matters most is a person’s relationship with God and their faithfulness to His word.
A person is a man of God not because of his titles, but because of his deep connection with God and how he lives according to His will. In 1 Samuel 9:6, Samuel was referred to as a man of God, not just because he was a prophet, but because his life reflected God’s character and guidance.
The same principle applies here. The man of God in 1 Kings 13 should have remained committed to the word God gave him, rather than being swayed by the title of the old prophet. We, too, must be careful not to place our trust solely in someone’s position but to test everything against God’s truth.
This leads us to an important point: TRUE HONOUR AND RESPECT DO NOT COME FROM TITLES OR POSITIONS. Samuel, David, and even Moses were honoured and respected not because of their roles but because of their relationship with God. Saul’s servant in 1 Samuel 9:6 didn’t refer to Samuel as “the prophet” but as “the man of God”, indicating that his honour came from his life lived in obedience to God.
We often see people chasing after titles—whether it’s Apostle, Evangelist, Prophet (Major Prophet) or among many others—believing that these titles bring respect and authority. However, as we’ve discussed, being a true man or woman of God is not about the position you hold, but about the heart you have for God. Honour from God comes from faithfulness, obedience, and a life that reflects God’s character, not from the name we carry or the title we hold.
Dear (wo)man of God, this story from 1 Kings 13 reminds us that no title or position should take the place of God’s voice in our lives. No matter how respected someone may be, stay committed to the word that God has given you. Don’t be deceived by titles or religious authority figures who may try to lead you away from God’s truth. The old prophet’s position should not have caused the man of God to ignore what he knew was right—and neither should any title cause us to compromise our obedience to God.
Being a man of God means staying rooted in His word, reflecting His character in every aspect of your life, and not being distracted by worldly titles or recognition.
In our cities or villages, and in our everyday lives, being a man of God means standing for God in all circumstances. It’s easy to be called a Christian, a leader, or a person of faith, but it’s more important to live out the qualities that come from being in close relationship with God. Honour and respect don’t come from what others call us; they come from how we live for God.
As we challenge ourselves today, let’s not settle for being Christians by association—having the name without the conviction. Instead, let’s be Christians by conviction, allowing our lives to be shaped by God’s word, and staying committed to what He has called us to do, even when others with titles or authority may say otherwise.
The man of God in 1 Kings 13 teaches us the cost of disobedience when we are swayed by titles instead of staying faithful to God. Let’s learn from this story and strive to be men and women of God who are honoured by God, not because of our titles, but because of our commitment to His word and His will.
