Church Leaders: God Looks For Qualities Than Qualifications (1 Timothy 3: 1 – 7)

INTRODUCTION

The reason church leadership is important, is because someone said that

“A Church will never rise above its leadership’.
Meanwhile, someone else said that
“As the leadership goes, so goes the Church’.

So, if leaders are not praying leaders, the church will not be a praying church. A.W. Tozer said about prayer,

“If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference”.

Now in the past, elders were chosen in churches, because they were men of affluence in the world. So, Elders were chosen and appointed because; they were really good businessmen, or, capable organizers. So, Church leadership was more secular than Christian.

“We learn, from the best practices and strategies, from the most successful global leaders, and then do our best to implement them. We “manage” to lead without God. We “do so much, so well by ourselves, that there is no need for God,”.

(Os Guiness, The Call).

BACKGROUND

The Apostle Paul wrote 2 letters to a young leader named Timothy.

Now together with Titus, the two letters to Timothy are called Pastoral Epistles, where Paul instructed these young Church leaders, on church ministry.

Now in 1 Timothy chapter 2, Paul had written to Timothy about Church worship, while in chapter 3, he writes about the qualifications for spiritual leaders such as Elders, Deacons and women in the church.

In the first 7 verses of chapter 3, Paul gives Timothy a list of qualifications for Bishops, or Elders, or leaders in the church.

SERMON TEXT

Trustworthy is the saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires earnestly a good work

(1 Timothy 3: 1)

IS AMBITION, A GODLY DESIRE?

Trustworthy (is) the saying (Or, this is a faithful saying):

In 1 Timothy 3: 1, Paul makes known to Timothy about a statement. The statement is, that if anyone wants to provide leadership for the church, his or her desire is an excellent one.

However, in the verses to follow, we observe that Paul does not want to leave the impression, that just any person qualifies to hold spiritual authority in a congregation. In verse 2 to 7, Paul list only one qualification for an elder, which is ability to preach. The rest are ‘godlike qualities’ that should be visible in a leader’s life, as to God, ‘quality is essential than qualifications’ in church leaders.

But in our text, before presenting the requirements for leaders, Paul is encouraging church members to aspire for Church leadership. He inspires Christians, to be ambitious! So, just as we can be ambitious to

run our own business, one day. Or,
to become a lawyer, or something else,

we can also be ambitious to give leadership in the church. So, ambition, need not be unspiritual!

AMBITION IS A GREAT DESIRE?

If anyone aspires (or desires, or, seeks) to be an overseer, … (Or, seeks to be a superintendent; or, seeks the office of Bishop; or, to be a Presbyter)

Now just as a country has a king or a president, the Church has a Bishop (or a Senior Pastor, or, a President). And just as the nation is governed according to the laws of the land, the church is governed according to the Word of God”.

Now in 1 Timothy 3, Paul is not describing the office of a Bishop, the way religious culture describes a Bishop, who oversees a large number of churches, covering a wide geographical area called a diocese. Therefore, Paul is not writing to an elite group of top-level church leaders. For if he did, this sermon would be irrelevant, as none of us fit the bill!

In Greek, the title bishop [episkopos], literally refers to one who oversees a local church. If so, not just Bishops, but also

Pastors are overseers, as they have pastoral oversight over a church; and
Elders are overseers as they oversee, or supervise, the administration of a local church.

Now all ‘overseers’ whether a Bishop, or your Pastor, and your current Elders, often struggle to conquer our weaknesses, and to reflect Christlike character described in verses 2 – 7, and you may struggle too! However, in our text, Paul is stating, that yet, there is nothing wrong

to desire, or to eagerly set our hearts, on holding office as a church leader, or,
in their minds, to have a great longing, to hold a position, so that they could provide leadership in the church.

However, Spiritual ambition is not the same as selfish ambition.

Spiritual ambition desires to be used by God, for God’s glory in whatever task that God may lead him or her to.
Selfish ambition, seeks self-glory which leads to personal pride; and the moment we become proud, we are discarded by God, as Satan was!

And unlike selfish ambition, the heart of Christian leadership is servant leadership, as we are followers of a servant Leader, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus told His disciples (Mat. 20: 26 & 27),

‘But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave’.

AMBITION IS A GOOD DESIRE

… he desires earnestly (or lust after) a good work.

We often tend to think of lust, as having inappropriate, intense feelings, of physical attraction, toward another person. But it is also possible to lust, or, to have an inward impulse, or to covet, money, property, objects, and, of course, positions in society, or even in the church! So, passions are dangerous and worldly.

However, in the Greek, the word ‘desire’ indicates that there are good desires, as well as bad desires. Therefore, not all desires are evil! Now in our text, Paul uses the word in a positive sense and says that such an ambition is creditable, as serving God as a Bishop, a Pastor, or an Elder, is not just an honorable position, but also a good, and great task.

Now do we have who worship at St. Andrew’s have such a fine desire to serve the Lord? Or, is our primary desire to serve the world in order to earn more money and to get promotions on the social ladder or our establishment?

It also should be kept in mind that “A good work, is hard work. The ministry is hard work, whether serving as Pastor, or Elder, or Church Leader! One Bible scholar stated that,

The ministry is not an idle man’s occupation, but a sore (meaning, painful) labour.”

“What is the use of a lazy minister? He is no good either to the world, to the Church, or to himself. He is a dishonor to the noblest profession that can be bestowed upon the sons of men.” (Spurgeon)

In New Testament times, Pastors and Church leaders faced persecution! Christians were also looked down in society that to be an Elder did not give them status! Yet Paul states that Christian ministry is a good and great task! Dr. Ajith Fernando, in his book, ‘Leadership Lifestyle’ states:

“The minister’s status, does not come from possessions or position in society. It comes from the great significance of the work he is doing. … He is ambassador of the King of all the earth”.

Spiritual leadership in the church isn’t all about titles and honor and glory; it’s about work. Jesus called the twelve [disciples] and said to them,

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all [in importance] and a servant of all.” (Mark 9:35 AMP).