260 in 2012 DEVOS - Day 193 - 1 Timothy 3: Character Qualities for Leaders

As I read the qualifications Paul lists in this chapter, I think, who can be all these things?! Nobody! So God has to use unqualified peeps like you and me, but these character traits are listed for a reason. What is it? God is serious about His leaders! Though not perfectly, these traits are to characterize those who humbly lead in His kingdom! “If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” – God’s leaders must first want to serve Him. Specifically here Paul is addressing “elders” – spiritual leaders in the church. They are to be: - above reproach: blameless, not perfection, but pursuit - husband of but one wife: a one-woman man, - temperate: handles their emotions - self-controlled: can say no to things, disciplined - respectable: wouldn’t give Jesus a bad name - hospitable: opens their home up, loves people - able to teach: the Word of God - not given to drunkenness: is not a boozer - not violent but gentle: responds with self-control - not quarrelsome: can work with others - not lover of money: sees finances as a stewardship, not his own - He must manage his own family well: if they can’t, why let them lead God’s family?! - He must not be a recent convert: not trained enough yet to lead - He must also have a good reputation with outsiders: it matters what your neighbors think Then he lists qualifications for deacons (those who serve, more task oriented) and their wives (8-12). The only real difference between qualities for elders and deacons is that elders must be “able to teach.” And by the way, it totally matters what the spouse of a leader is like too! Paul concludes by sharing that “Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” What an encouraging byproduct for those who serve faithfully! SO WHAT?! *So why the big deal about our character? Because we are God’s representatives to an unbelieving world that needs to see Jesus in us! And by the way, even though this list is for those who serve as deacons & elders in a church, they are character qualities that God desires of all His kids! Take a moment today and go thru the list above and rate yourself. If you’re bold, ask someone else to rate you. Then take your lowest one and ask God to help you work on it over the next 30 days. If you do one of these a month, within a year you will have nearly covered them all. *As a student pastor, whenever I put someone in leadership, I am basically saying “Be like them.” That’s a sobering thought for me and my fellow servant leaders. God is obviously not looking for the perfect, but He does seek FAT peeps and so do I! Faithful, Available & Teachable ones whom the Holy Spirit can do great things to and through! Lord, help us to be FAT today!