Titus 1:5-8; 1 Timothy 3:8-13

Men who serve as elders in a local church need to be …

·        Not self-willed.  He is not known as one who simply seeks his own pleasure.  This term is used of false teachers (2 Peter 2:10).  It is impossible for a group of men (elders, plural, were to be appointed in each church) to agree together if they do not seek the things of Christ.  Self-willed leaders do not do that.

·        Not quick-tempered.  He cannot be prone to anger, especially angry outbursts.  That kind of person speaks without thinking or being led by the Spirit.  He must be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (Jas. 1:19).

·        Not given to wine.  Abstinence was not the requirement but alcoholic drinks were not to be an important part of his life.

·        Not violent.  Literally, he was not to be a bruiser nor could he be contentious or quarrelsome.  Charles Spurgeon told his Pastor’s College students, ‘Don’t go about the world with your fist doubled up for fighting, carrying a theological revolver in the leg of your trousers.’  In dealing with disagreement church leaders are to be gentle, patient and humble (2 Tim. 2:24-26).

·        Not greedy for money.  He must not be covetous.  He might be wealthy, although in our world we need to emphasize that having money is not a qualification for being chosen a leader.  All too often churches do this, giving leadership to those with money.  The idea is that he is not greedy and that even more, he is known to be generous.  For example, he should be …

·        Hospitable.  Literally, he is a lover of strangers.  All believers are called to this (Rom. 12:13; 1 Pet. 4:9), using their homes as an oasis for others.  It is a Christian trait to be comfortable having people in your private dwelling.

·        A lover of what is good.  This can be translated either lover of good men or lover of good (which includes good men).  It is like what Paul calls for in Phil. 4:8.  Consider Warren Wiersbe’s thoughts on this:

“One who loves what is good” (niv) is an alternate translation, and this would include good men. But it also includes good books, good music, good causes, and many other good things. A man is a good man because he has a good heart and surrounds himself with good things. It is difficult to believe that a dedicated servant of God would deliberately associate with things that are bad for him and his family.

We need to emphasize something here.  This is not a list like the Ten Commandments, a check-list to make life difficult for leaders.  It is, in fact, the life of Christ.  It is describing men who have learned to walk with Christ.  Their lives have come to reflect His image (2 Cor. 3:18).  And again, part of their ministry is to spur on the rest of the flock to the same Likeness.