An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. – 1 Timothy 3:2-3
What kind of people should we trust and follow as leaders? Here are three traits to look for, cultivate, and thank God for.
Wise judgment
“Sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable… not a drunkard.” Look at the decisions in a person’s life. Do they bear the marks of wisdom? Look at what a person has said or done and the positions they have taken in times of difficulty. Do you see wise judgment? Usefulness in serving others flows from effectiveness in controlling yourself.
Healthy relationships
“Not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome.” An elder cannot be weak. He must be able to confront, but he must have compassion and sympathy that reflects the spirit of Jesus. Some people carry conflict within them. They stir up trouble. So look at a person’s relationships. Do you see gentleness? Or do trouble and conflict follow them?
Moral integrity
“The husband of one wife… not a lover of money.” This does not mean that a person has to be married to lead. A person must be celibate if single and faithful if married. A leader must also be faithful with finances. The most obvious evidence of this is that he is a generous giver. The effective Christian leader is marked by sexual and financial integrity.
It is sometimes said that character is what you are in private. That’s only half the story. The character of a Christian leader is both private and public. It includes being “above reproach” (3:2) and being “well thought of by outsiders” (3:7). This is more than a private holiness of the heart. It’s the way our lives are seen by others.
How do you see these traits reflected in your leaders? How can you cultivate them in yourself?
