SUNDAY March 23, 2025
Qualities of a Leader
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior....
1 Timothy 3:2
Leaders in the church are required to be temperate. The word temperate means “self-control.” The person desiring this office has been proved; there is evidence seen of his good character. The Bible teaches that elders have to be temperate or disciplined in all things (1 Corinthians 9:25).
Are you a man who will “lose his head” in difficult situations? Under pressure, some men have a tendency to get angry quickly. In leadership, you have to keep your cool! The only way to do that is to be Spirit-filled–– be governed by God’s Holy Spirit. An elder needs to exercise sensible judgment with a calm and circumspect spirit.
A person who is temperate is usually described as an individual who is moderate and not self-indulgent––he has good control of his life. As a godly man, he knows how to set limits and boundaries. Again, he is temperate––not losing his physical, psychological or spiritual orientation. At all times he remains stable and steadfast. He is a clear thinker.
Paul also addressed the quality of being sober–minded. The word sober means that he must have a serious attitude toward godliness and holiness. He is earnest about his work, and he knows the value of it. He never cheapens the ministry by slothful and lazy behavior. He is prudent in all things. God’s love, grace, and mercy are working through this man.
An elder also exhibits good behavior. He has an orderly life; he is very organized. His thinking, living, teaching, and preaching are all led by the Lord through the power of His Holy Spirit––amazing!
When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world.
~C.S. Lewis~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
