Conditions!

1 Timothy 3:5-13

The Message (MSG)

Leadership in the Church

3 1-7 If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he’s talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap.

In my studies, today, I came across this passage. It made me think of my husband. He is a wonderful father and he is an amazing husband. He loves us with all his being, but more importantly he loves our God. He has loved and followed Him since he was young. He knew, then, that God was calling him into leadership. I love reading his old journals because I see the Christian boy turning into a man who goes on to follow that calling and become a pastor that preaches the gospel in a way that inspires others to be leaders.

Which leads me to the continuation of the passage. Not only do our pastors have conditions but so do we......  

8-13 The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.

Workers in the church need to watch themselves as well. They shouldn't just expect their pastors to be as perfect as possible but also should watch out for their own behaviors as well. They need to control their tongues, be committed to their spouses, love their children and be above board. Most importantly they need to love their God with all their hearts. 

I love that these verses say the same for both men and women. I grew up in a church that did not think women could be leaders in the church but the scriptures say different. God made us as equals, but that also means we women need to be as devoted to our God, watch our tongues and be devoted to our men and family as well.

I have to admit that my tongue is one of my trouble spots. How about you? I pray about that all the time!

My hope for you is that you have found a church where there is a pastor that follows the conditions God has set for him or her. Where you can worship but also where you can be inspired to be a leader that God wants you to be. Imagine how at peace our world would be if we all had that.

Blessings!