If you've been coming to Bible study, you know we've been talking about elder qualifications in Titus. I wanted to briefly type out a review of the qualifications we looked at during last night's study along with the practical applications for "the rest of us." Remember elders are held to these standards, but ALL Christians are called to pursue these qualities (or to avoid the vices). There are not two separate classes of Chrsitian- some who should seek to live God-honoring lives and others who don't have to worry about that. All Christians are being conformed to the image of Christ. So, these should matter to you. We should say, "I want to have a life characterized by those virtues and not full of those vices.”
Take some time to prayerfully think about your life in relation to these character traits. Praise God for areas you are doing well in (knowing it is his grace at work in you) and ask him for help to grow in areas you are falling short in (knowing you need the Holy Spirit to be at work in you).
5 Vices that must NOT characterize an elder
| Vice | Opposite | Application |
| Arrogance/Self-will- This is being pushy and seeking one's own will instead of God's and instead of looking out for the interests of others. It is also a pride that won’t receive criticism well. | A humble servant who looks out for the interest of others instead of using his power for personal gain (Matt. 20:25-28). | Do you often push for your own way? Or do you joyfully look out for the interest of others? How do you handle criticism? Do you examine it humbly to see if it is true? Or does it always roll right off your back? |
| Quick-Tempered- Having a “short fuse,” or being easily angered | Humility, gentleness, patience, love (Eph. 4:1-2) | Do you have a short fuse? Are you easily provoked to anger? If you ask someone to do something and they don’t do it the way you want or fail, how do you respond? With patience and love or in anger? |
| Drunkard- This is a person whose companion is wine (or any other substance that causes a person to not be clear-headed/sober-minded). | Being self-controlled and filled with the Spirit (Eph. 4:18) | Do not allow alcohol or drugs to control you or master you. If you choose to drink, do not do it to the point of losing mental capacity and sound judgment. Exercise self-control and temperance. Be filled with the Spirit (ie. under His control). |
| Violent- Abusiveness, meanness, or fighting to get one’s own way or suppress opposition. Riding rough-shod over others or bullying them with physical violence or striking them with your words. | Gentleness (1 Tim 3:3) and being a peacemaker (Rom. 12:18). | Do you like brawling to get your way (physically or striking with your words)? Or, do you seek peace in situations? |
| Greedy for Gain- Seeking financial or material gain without integrity. Loving money and material things- always wanting more. | Contentment (1 Tim. 6:6), seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness above all (Matt. 6). | Are you content financially and materially? Or do you seek happiness in having a new car, dreaming of getting rich and retiring (it’s not wrong to have things, but to be mastered by a desire for them is to be ruled by them…and they make terrible gods)? Store up treasure in heaven where it won’t be destroyed or stolen or lost. |
6 Virtues that must characterize an elder
| Virtue | Application |
| Hospitable- One who gives practical help to anyone in need- friend or stranger. | You may not have a “home” to open up or a kitchen to prepare meals in, but hospitality is more than that. You can do this even if you live in a dorm. You can be hospitable by caring for lonely friends/dorm-mates (be wise- guys help guys and women help women). Be welcoming to newcomers who are at church or C/C group instead of just focusing on your comfort or talking to those you know. |
| Loving what is good- Loves what is good as opposed to sinful, worthless, not God-glorifying. | Our close Friendships should be with those that are virtuous and good- with those who love good things. Do the TV shows you watch exalt that which is evil? Do you get some secret delight from the immorality, gossip, slander, or glorification of sin portrayed? Be honest. The problem is not that you would go do the things you see, but that you are mentally delighting in what is not good. |
| Sensible- Being wise and thoughtful. Not being driven by emotion, but cool-headed. | Are you controlled in your thinking, not given to a lack of control and being feeling driven? |
| Upright- Living righteously and justly before others. | Do you seek to practice righteousness in your everyday life? Do you want to be just in your dealings with others? |
| Holy/Devout- Living a life that is pleasing to God. | Do you regularly confess and repent of your sin before the Lord? Do you seek to find out what pleases the Lord (you find this in his revealed will (ie. his Word). |
| Disciplined/ Self-controlled- Having one’s desires in check and under control. | Are you ruled by your desires for money, sleep (laziness), food (overeating), material things? Do you lack control with your use of time (wasting much time on TV or the Internet)? Or do you rule over your desires so that you might be focused on pursuing the one prize- Jesus (1 Cor. 9:24-27). |
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