Is he a good neighbor and friend? Does he get drunk? Is he faithful to his wife? Is he abusive? Is he greedy? These things are important to find out because, "This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth."(v.7).
This is such a powerful chapter, and though you may think you are not looking to be an elder or deacon anytime soon, you are the church. So let's have a few words on that shall we.
This chapter is split focusing on the character of a leader; then Paul changes it up and gives some heart behind the pragmatics (look it up). What is it that makes a leader? It obviously does not have much to do with the position. Timothy probably had the power to make anyone an elder, but most of the guidelines were about character, which determined a deacon’s ability to preach the gospel. Character is vital to being apart of the church, because if the truth is tainted, how is it truth.
We may not all be called to be an elder, leader, or even janitor of a church, but we are all apart of THE church, united through Christ. Paul was telling Timothy to find someone who would be a good example in character. That is what leadership is about, and in some way we all lead this church, especially the janitors.
Read through, and even write down some of the traits Paul talks about. Are you living up to this standard that is set before us? Are you married? No, ok then don't worry about that one. Are you a good neighbor and friend? Are you an example to those around you?
There are so many good things in this chapter; don’t let me stop your thinking, read it yourself and let God speak to you through this.
“Example is not the most important thing about leadership. It is the only thing.” Albert Schweitzer
-fonzi
Most of the characteristics that Paul mentions here seem pretty self-explanatory to me. But a few jumped out at me.
ReplyDelete[v2] “A bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;” (NKJV)
The last part jumped out at me. I thought about it and realized that to be “able to teach,” one must also be able to be taught.
[v4] “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence”
I figure that just means that he must be able to command respect and a good way to gauge that ability is by looking at how is own children treat him. If you can’t get your kids to respect you, it’s going to be difficult to get other people to do so.
[v6] “not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.”
Basically, he needs experience and with experience comes wisdom. Ever started something new, felt like you were doing a great job and kinda got a big head about it? But then later you find out you were doing everything wrong and it all comes crashing down? By saying the bishop shouldn’t be a novice, Paul is trying to prevent that kind of thing from happening. Because it’s one thing if you do something one way and later find out your wrong, but it’s even worse if you went around telling everyone that your way was right, to only come to find out that you led them all astray.
[v7]”Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, les he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
So, I think this is one of the most important parts. To have a good testimony means that when someone tries to attack your character, they have nothing to work with. This happens with high school gossip all the time. Someone says something bad about someone else and the rumor starts going around until it gets so big, no one can say otherwise. But it’s harder to convince someone of a rumor if they know that the rumor directly contradicts that person’s life or personality, than it is if the rumor has some basis in truth. The bishop needs to live so that when others try to attach him, they can’t touch his character.