1 Timothy 3:4–5 (ESV) — 4 He must manage his own household well, with all
dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does
not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?
NOTE: How we "manage" our family is a key
discriminant in choosing leaders. But let's turn that around for a bit. How
does God manage his family, the body of Christ, and previously the Israelites
or the angels? He does not interfere with their free will. They do not always
follow his directions. Sometimes they accomplish great things but far too often
they fall far short of their potential effectiveness. So, does not that mean
God is not good at managing his household? Absolutely not. Therefore the first
rule is that our household's performance is not necessarily a good measure,
although it might be an indicator. The word manage means to lead (authority) or
guide or direct. A secondary definition is engage in aiding. The root word is
to stand. So, the real question for me in determining an elder is as follows:
Does the person take the spiritual lead in the household? Does the person stand
for biblical truth? Does the person take appropriate steps to aid struggling
family members (without enabling behavior)? Does the person's life show strong
character example to others in the family? If the family is a mess, it could be
the husband's leadership, but not necessarily, since all people have free will.
Like God's first children, Adam and Eve, just having strong parents is no
guarantee of success.
PRAYER: Father, give
me wisdom to lead my family effectively. I pray my words and my actions would
not be in conflict. I pray my leadership would be loving but firm. I pray for
your help because I know I cannot do it in my own power.
No comments:
Post a Comment