"The Overseer"

June 11, 2016

“The Overseer”

Blessings folk!

It is a fine thing to desire to do the work of an overseer.

Note:
It is a role, a functioning, an “office” that the the Lord desired for the Body of Christ.
It is work.
Not limited to vocational.
It takes energy.
Work.

Look at the character of the overseer.

1Ti 3:1-7

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.


Many of these are in other portions of the Word…some are added insight…
Above reproach
the husband of one wife
temperate
prudent
respectable
hospitable
able to teach
not addicted to wine
not pugnacious
gentle
peaceable
free from the love of money
manager of own house
not a new convert
good reputation outside the church

When seeking leadership, we must look toward a pattern and practice of behavior that support all these.

Certainly, there we will be failures from time to time, but is the overall pattern supportive of these characteristics?

Too many leaders are not qualified.
They are lovers of money…so prevalent.
They are addicted…maybe not to wine (from my background)…but to food…gluttony is as much a sin as drunkenness. They are addicted to power, prestige, position and other passions. Addiction is the issue.
They are intemperate.
They are not prudent.
They are argumentative.
They are brusk rather than gentle.

Beware of such.
Flee such.