Before God Makes The Ministry, He Makes The Minister
1 Timothy 3:1-7
It is a trustworthy statement:if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1. Above reproach – an impeccable track record, well tested over a period of time and proven in various positions while being exposed to the rigors of life.
2. The husband of one wife – this is the virtue of faithfulness towards God and towards his wife. The overseer must prove himself to have overcome the lure of sexual temptations.
3. Temperate – this means being level headed and composed all the time, not given to lapses of sin and addictions. A temperate person does not give the devil a window of opportunity to tempt him.
4. Prudent – this as apposed “temperate” describes the inner state of the person who is rests steadfast in the notion of the Spirit, and not given to fleshly urges.
5. Respectable – connotes characteristics that evoke admiration, high regard and approval.
6. Hospitable – the virtue of servitude, of being warm, friendly, personable, gracious, and approachable.
7. Able to teach – this calls for a level of personal authority, and understanding of the truth, enabling him to teach the truth in a credible and systematic manner.
8. Not addicted to wine – he has no fleshly addictions that causes him to lapse into sin. A person who is addicted to either wine, pornography, envy or vengeance is unreliable and unpredictable. Addiction is a condition where his actions and thoughts are under demonic influence and bondage.
9. Gentle – this relates to the virtues of patience, empathy, and tolerance, giving people space to make mistakes.
10. Peaceable – not easily provoked, and not contentious.
11. Free from the love of money – not given to greed for material possessions.