Sunday 28 January, 2018

3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

It is a wonderful thing that we are told that aspiring to a leadership position is good and honourable. Why? Because of the description of maturity which follows. Our goal, as Christians, is to constantly seek to grow in our ‘Christlikeness’. Here is a description of someone who has grown. Whether we become leaders or not we should all aspire to be like the person in this passage – with maturity, humility and self-control.

If we are leaders these qualities in us serve two purposes.

One is to provide a good example to those we lead, to then help them to grow. It is interesting that Paul advises against new Christians becoming leaders too soon, because of the risk of pride causing them to fall.

The second purpose is to be a good witness to the world. We are God’s representatives on earth. When “people outside the church speak well” of a leader, God is seen in a more positive light. But when we fall, although this is grossly unfair to God, people outside the church may look negatively on Him. No wonder we need maturity to lead!

Lord, please help me be controlled by your Spirit, so that I may grow more like you throughout my life. Help me to encourage others to grow too, and help me be a good witness so that “in my going I may make disciples”

Written by Megan Cornell