Today we are reading from 1 Timothy 3: 1-7:

The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. 2 Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way— 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.

Paul has Timothy in the Roman city of Ephesus and Timothy was helping to build up and start more churches with that community.  Paul will give him useful and faithful guidelines for church leaders and today we see him talking about bishops or overseers.  The position of bishop is one that is one of the oldest titles in all the church.  This position is one that will lead the church and “oversee” or help with the church government.  What do we see is commended here? 

We see self-control.  Kindness.  Humility.  Good management.  Stability.  Respected.  

In other words, we see someone walking the path of Jesus.  Someone who is growing closer to Him.  We see someone who is having the fruit of the spirit produced in their lives. We are seeing someone who has submitted themselves to God and who is seeking to honor Him with all that they are. 

We see someone seeking holiness, seeking to love God and love neighbor with all that they are.  

These are good things for all of us to aspire to, whether we are seeking Christian leadership or whether we are seeking to merely following Jesus.  Because in fact, that is what Christian leadership is about following Jesus and then inviting others to join you as you follow Jesus.  Following Jesus, seeking to be like Jesus, seeking to imitate Jesus, that is what it is truly all about.  If we aspire to do anything other than that as leaders we are missing the point. 

If we aspire to do anything other than that as Christians, we are missing the point.  Today, we see the point of Christian leadership.  following Jesus.  May each of us do just that.  

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