I Timothy 3:2
These qualifications are for all who are Christians. Today we will pick up in verse 2 with the qualification of being sober. Sober means safe (sound) in mind, i.e. self-controlled, (moderate as to opinion or passion):- discreet, sober, temperate. One who follows sound reason and restrains his passions. Sober minded is having the minds passions and desires under control. This is in anything. The elder must be able to tell the flesh no, and hold fast. Our flesh is very powerful. It ruled us until the Lord saved us. It had free reign until the Lord saved us. Now that we are saved it hasn't put up the white flag of surrender, but it has put up the battle flag. It wants to be pleased and it can only be pleased when it is number one; when it is getting its way.
In Romans 7 we see Paul being honest about the struggles he had in the flesh. If we cannot control our own flesh, we are not in control. "For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body," James 3:2. If you cannot restrain your passions you won't be able to restrain your tongue. The result is much sorrow, pain, and regret. To bridle something is to have control over it. We are not to get caught up in emotions or get swept up in the things going on around us. As a mob moves through a town it can grow and many of the people in the mob don't even know why they are there, they just got caught up in all the emotions.
All these qualifications are very important. All these apply to all of us, but more so to the leaders of the church. If the leaders are not sober minded, they will wear out the people going from one extreme to another. If the passions are not restrained the flesh will be magnified. When the flesh is magnified the Lord is not glorified. Everything will be geared around satisfying the passions of the flesh.
Let's look at the definition for sober again- safe (sound) in mind, i.e. self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion):- discreet, sober, temperate. Moderate as to opinion or passion. We are to be passionate for the Word of God. We saw in II Timothy 4 the importance of preaching the Word of God all the time. We must be careful that we do not use the Word of God to promote our opinion or passion. Simply give the Word. It will not return void but will accomplish that which God hath appointed it to accomplish. The Word should form our opinion and passion. We should live a life of discipline.
The next qualification is of good behavior and means orderly; well-ordered, decorous, modest, in a moral sense. Decorous means decent; suitable to a character, or to the time, place and occasion; becoming; proper; befitting. Our behavior should always be well ordered in all occasions. I am a Christian before I am anything else, I should act like it. How sad it is for someone to be in a crowd and after a few minutes introduce themselves to someone and say that they are a Christian, and the person who they are introduced to says, you had me fooled. Our behaviour must be well-ordered. God is a God of order, His bishops are to be also. He must accomplish task, large or small. If he leaves things undone this will also be in his study's. He must be a man who accomplishes tasks. He must have a vision and a drive for that vision. This goes back to being sober, temperate, level headed. Would you follow a man into battle who is not well-ordered? You never know what he will do or where he will go. There is much uncertainty; therefore there is no confidence. If a person is not self-controlled they will not be in good behaviour. You may be saying that you are glad you aren't a pastor; these qualifications apply to all who are Christians. I Corinthians 13.
Before we speak, act or react, we must ask ourselves, is this how Christ would do it? Would Christ throw a fit? Would Christ throw a fist? Would Christ want everyone to know He was mad? Would Christ do and say to draw attention to Himself? Would Christ be concerned with what others thought about Himself to the point others dictated what He said and how He dealt with things? All that Jesus did He did to bring honour and glory to His Father. Does our behaviour bring honour and glory to our heavenly Father? This is in preaching, teaching, and in life. This is much to think about. No doubt right now our minds are running about how and where we have messed up. Confess these things as sin, repent from them and turn to Christ, and keep going for Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ.
The next qualification is given to hospitality. This is speaking of loving strangers. Loving on those who you do not know. Inviting these people to your home and feeding them a meal. I know this is dangerous in the day in which we live in, but the church has gotten away from being given to hospitality. What does this mean? The church has gotten away from being available. We are too busy. Because of our business our homes are not readily available to have strangers over. They may see the real us. A pastor is also to be available to strangers. The pastor is to be available and approachable. It isn't just our home that is to be available, our heart is also. All of us have been hurt by others, and we end up with a guard on our heart. We become hardened to others, especially strangers. This is not good. This causes us not to witness to others. This means we don't have a heart for others because we are scared it will get hurt again. It will get hurt again, people will do you wrong and people will take advantage of you and use you and abuse you. They did this to Jesus, they will surely do this to us. Yet Jesus continued to do the Fathers will. The pastor will be hurt by others on a regular basis. But even though this will happen, he must still be given to hospitality. If he isn't then he is disqualified. Through these studies I see more and more the importance of the pastor's family and especially his wife.
The next qualification is apt to teach and this means able to communicate Christian teaching, apt or skilled in teaching. This is another reason why a babe in Christ shouldn't be pasturing. I want to remind you that these qualifications apply to all who are Christians. Why put an ability in with these moral qualifications? The teacher must have a moral character. If he lives what he teaches others will listen to him. People won't listen to a hypocrite. The pastor must live what he teaches. Why? II Timothy 2:24-26; Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15-17. The pastor must teach by Word and example so the people can know to do right. The elder must teach all the flock, not just a select few (Acts 20:28). The elder must also recognize gifts that people have, and those whom God has graciously groomed and matured with these gifts (II Timothy 2:1-2). Why does God give His churches bishops? Look at Ephesians 4:11-16.
It is vitally important that the church has people in leadership positions who are Biblically qualified. Not someone who makes a lot of money or is popular in the community. Do pastors have problems? Do pastors make mistakes? Do pastors get hurt? Pastors are human and their families are too. Many people are leading churches who shouldn't be today, and it is the churches fault. Here are the qualifications that God has given for those who will oversee His churches. We have no excuse to lower them or compromise them for any reason or for anyone. Keep doing Kingdom work. To God be the glory.
