The Desire to Lead: 1 Timothy 1:3
“1) It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.” 1 Timothy 3:1
One of Timothy’s responsibilities was to appoint leadership over the church in Ephesus. Serving as an overseer is a huge task and great responsibility.
When considering church leaders, personal desire and godly qualifications must come together. Some may desire to be leaders but they are not qualified for various reasons. Others may be qualified but they have no desire to be a leader. Both must come together within a leader.
Some, like Peter may warm up slowly to this calling. In John 21:15-17, Jesus had to beckon him three times to feed and care for His sheep. I am mindful that God is the one who puts leadership in place.
Others, like the false teachers in Ephesus had an aspiration for leadership but were not qualified. (See 1 Timothy 1:6-20) It is as important to avoid bad leadership over the church as it is to find good leaders.
I believe leadership includes both gifting and calling. Paul makes this case in Ephesians 4:11-14. Yet, church leaders must work on personal growth and development. They need to continually hone their skills. It takes effort to move from good to great as a leader.
Every leader should be a reader and devote considerable time studying the subject of leadership, relational skills and the art of communications. John Maxwell is a great author on this subject. I encourage every pastor and Christian leader to study his material.
The bottom line is that Christian leaders are servants of the people entrusted to them and not lords or masters. Jesus had much to say on this subject during His public ministry. Peter also addressed this style of leadership in 1 Peter 5:1-5.
So what are the biblical qualification for leadership? Paul tackles that subject in the balance of this chapter.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global