TUESDAY February 11, 2025

Leaders in the Church

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
1 Timothy 3:

In the Pastoral Epistle of 1 Timothy, Paul will set down the prerequisites for the care and organization of the Church. His letter will cover how God’s house is to be cared for administratively, financially, and spiritually. He will address how the elders and leaders are supposed to behave. He will set down a high standard of all the qualifying factors a leader is required to have before getting involved in the ministry.

Listen, not just anyone can become a leader in the church. A leader must have the criteria written in these Pastoral Epistles. Understand, poor leadership will cause a church to die. Therefore, Paul gave instruction on the behavior of men and women in ministry. There was an emphasis on how they handled their own children and their own home. These letters cause us to reflect on our own management of our households.

Paul knew that a leader’s behavior must have the standard of godliness and holiness. He speaks about having purity in our Christian faith. As a father to a son, Paul said to Timothy: Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12). What great instruction!

To want to be a part of church leadership is a good desire, but there are going to be things that you need to consider. As you study these letters, make an honest examination of your heart. You will have to ask yourself tough questions, such as, “How am I managing my own affairs and my home?” I ask you, “Why do you want to be in leadership?” Know this: Leadership is servanthood exercised in humility. Spend time with God and hear from Him before you take a step of faith to be in leadership.

So often we try to develop Christian character and conduct without taking the time to develop God-centered devotion. We try to please God without taking the time to walk with Him and develop a relationship with Him. This is impossible to do.
~Jerry Bridges~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!