YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) – 4
READ 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9
We are talking about what God looks for in a leader. First, a godly leader must want to be a godly leader. Second, a godly leader must have godly inner qualities. Third, a godly leader has godly interpersonal relationships. Fourth, he must have a godly reputation. In this blog we will look at another character trait.
- A GODLY LEADER HAS A GODLY SPIRITUAL LIFE
Another list of character traits that Paul mentions focuses on a leader’s individual spiritual growth and maturity. This, too, is very important for all leaders.
A godly leader must be holy (Titus 1:8). He must be a man or woman who lives for God and pleases God. He does his best to make sure there is no sin in what he thinks or does. None of us can ever be perfect, but we must make sure there is no unconfessed sin in our lives. Others should be able to sense the presence of God in his life. He needs to have matured in his Christian walk so he is becoming more holy.
He also needs to mature in His Christian knowledge. Paul says a godly leader must hold fast to sound doctrine (Titus 1:9). He must be able to explain and defend the truth of the Word. He must show it in operation as he lives his daily life.
Because it takes time to mature in our daily life and Bible knowledge, Paul also says a leader is not to be a new convert (1 Timothy 3:6). The word refers to a new, tender plant, which needs sun and water to grow strong. New believers need to learn God’s Word and apply it to their lives. It takes time to mature and grow spiritually. Paul warns that if there isn’t enough time for this to happen, the new leader can become proud because of his position and fall in sin. When a Christian has been growing for a while, they can be put in positions of assisting another leader so they can be trained and learn, but they must be under someone’s authority and accountable to them until they are mature enough to handle leadership without becoming proud or self-centered.
The final qualification related to his spiritual life is that a leader must be able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2). This means first of all that he must have a teachable spirit and be willing to learn and grow spiritually while growing in Bible knowledge. Then he must be able to communicate God’s truth to others. Not all leaders are gifted in teaching, but all must do their best to share God’s truth with others in any way they can. We are not all gifted in evangelism or prayer, either, but we need to do our best anyway. The same is true of leaders being teachers. This is the only quality that touches upon a leadership skill. The fact that that skill is teaching the Bible shows how very, very important it is for God’s Word to be taught by everyone. (August 8, 2022 Doylestown, PA)
Are you growing in holiness and victory over sin? Are there any sins in your life that are defeating you? What must you do to have victory in those areas? Are you faithfully studying and learning the Bible? Can you discern error and show others God’s truth from the Word? Do you do your best to communicate God’s truth to others? Are you still maturing and growing in your faith and knowledge?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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