I Timothy 3:1-10 (NRSV)
The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Now a bishop * must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.
He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way— for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.
The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Now a bishop * must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.
He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way— for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.
Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money; 9they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons.
This is the kind of scripture that fascinates me. It's a window into the earliest days of the Christian church. The apostle Paul is writing to Timothy, a younger leader in the church, describing the attributes that Christian leaders ought to have.
We could dwell on the obvious choices: faithful, not greedy, temperate, sensible, respectable. But, I'm more interested in Paul's words about maturity.
Whatever qualities potential leaders in the faith might have, Paul says, make sure they're not "puffed up," easily falling into the "condemnation of the devil."
You may not know it or believe it, but if you're taking the time to read this and spending a moment in prayer, you're probably a "Christian leader" in someone's life. That doesn't just come with the pressure of responsibility, it also comes with opportunity.
All those good gifts (hospitality, temperance, respect) come first through humility. We are all dependent upon God. Knowing that truth means it's not so much about me, but entirely about God. Our task is to allow God the space, through the "crucifixion" of our pride, to be at work in our lives.
A big task, but a great journey.
Prayer: Forgive us when we have grown conceited and "puffed up" in our faith. May we serve one another in humility and with the grace of Jesus Christ.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.
Tomrorow's Scripture: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
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