1 Timothy 3:1-7
Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
The importance and value of a church’s leadership cannot be overstated. As the leader(s) go, so does the church. This is why the kind of leadership in a church will determine whether it will thrive or not, whether it is healthy or not. Thus, Paul writes to both Timothy and Titus (1:5-9) and instructs them on the kind of leaders they should appoint for the churches in Ephesus and in Crete.
Notice in our passage that the traits of the kind of leader God desires have more to do with character than competence. In fact, there is only one competence mentioned here – ability to teach. The rest have to do with the kind of reputation the leader has in and outside the church, how he runs his home, whether there is evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in them, that they are not recently converted, etc. When these are present in a church’s leadership, the church will thrive. However, when they are absent, the church withers away. It is not uncommon to find a pastor excusing and justifying certain sins from the pulpit. When this happens, it is usually because the pastor has compromised and is therefore justifying their own actions. That is why it is important that we are vigilant about these things and should hold the leaders of our churches to this standard.
Reflections
1. Since leaders are raised from among the church members, how do you measure up on these qualities?
