TIMOTHY AND TITUS
Leadership Principles #3: CHOOSE LEADERS WELL
God’s church needs to be healthy or it will slowly and painfully wither on the vine that is attached the Cornerstone, Jesus Christ. We can still be attached, but slowly dying because of the lack of solid, pure, unselfish, trained volunteer leadership with should be the backbone of God’s church. Paul tells Timothy exactly what this should look like so that he will choose other support servant leaders well.
Here are some stipulations. Please read ALL of 1 Timothy, chapter 3 (The Message is my reference) for yourselves to get a feel for the context and wisdom of this holy advice.
“If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good!”
The checklist:
“A leader must be well thought of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospital.”
“He must know what he’s talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry.”
“He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church?”
“He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up.” (Meaning those mature in the faith!)
“…serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it.”
“They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things.”
“Let them prove themselves first.”
Specifically for women? The same advice…
“…serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine.”
“Committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs.”
“Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.”
! Timothy:3, Msg
God’s church rises or falls on servant leadership. The more spiritually healthy the leaders are, both paid and volunteer, the more healthy and productive the church is in pleasing God, following what Jesus taught us and being all that God meant for his church to be…pointing lost and sick people to Jesus! Satan would have us point people to us, to the church, to our “great music” or “wonderful preacher”, but our higher, purer motive should always be…to point people to Jesus. Our “walk” driven by His Word.
Dear Heavenly Father, You have spelled it out pretty concisely. May we not lean to our own understanding in choosing but wholly lean on this pure advice. It’s not easy, but necessary for Your church. Thank you, Lord for making it plain. Help us to be a “God-alive” church, bastion of Truth”. Thank you, for saving us. In Jesus Name, Amen
