In First Timothy chapter one we discovered the command for Sound Doctrine, In chapter two we saw the clarity of our Sacred Duty. In chapter three we shall learn that Paul commends Spiritual Directives for local church leaders.
It is a frustrating experience to have unqualified, incapable, incompetent people working with you in the work force. On the other hand, there are times when a person may do a job very well and possess absolutely no qualifications for the job. I am reminded of the ophthalmologist practicing in the Atlanta, Georgia area who never even graduated college; a fraud, but successful.
There is something far worse, and that is having church leaders who are there because we prefer administration to anointing, handsomeness to holiness, persuasiveness of man to the power of God, and articulation to God's appointed. It takes courage to change, but we can - and we must. God demands that His prerequisites of leadership be followed to the letter. In this third chapter of First Timothy we shall consider those requirements; first for pastors, then for deacons.
THE PASTOR'S DESIRE -
3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
We shall consider six things regarding the bishop (overseer), pastor (shepherd), or elder (presbyter) regarding his desire -
Remember that the terms above are referring to different aspects of the same person. Our text uses the word Bishop (overseer) because the subject relates to local church management or oversight.
In all respects (bishop, pastor, elder, shepherd) he is to feed the flock as the pastor, guiding and guarding the flock as a shepherd pastor, and ruling the flock as an elder.
Ephesians 4:11 makes it clear that the pastor is a gift from God for the local church. To deny or ignore that is to deny and ignore the gifts and callings of God which are without repentance. In other words, God does not change His mind about the gift.
The word "desire" conveys far more than a wish. It indicates a stretching to succeed, which is not to be understood as self motivation, and it is not success by man's standard, but God's. Paul put it this way, "the love of Christ constrains us". It means doing the work God's way. It is a divine desire that directs us beyond our own and those of others to the very heart of God Himself.
Another thing is that it is not his ability to speak, but his willingness to serve. I am afraid that the service part of the "bishop" is lacking in many of today's churches. Many have become the CEO in charge of a large business, whose driving desire is to get enough money to pay the debt. I know of a church that OWES over 40 million dollars, and that is peanuts to some. Maybe it will be a museum on day when the true Church gets back to homes and holiness.
So, this one who strives to succeed, at the same time stoops to serve. Any minister who wants expects you to serve him without his serving the body is suspect. I am afraid we have reached the point of no return with the "success motivation" philosophy in the church. God measures success differently than do we.
As church leaders, we must be compassionate and competent with the Word of God. Jesus is just as concerned with boys and girls as He is with men and women. He had times for children in the midst of other challenges. If a pastor is too busy for people, whether poor of prosperous, he is too busy.
Enough for today.
BLESSINGS
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