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Scripture Reading: 1 Tim. 3:1-7
The fifth qualification of an elder in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 is “orderly” (v. 2). To be orderly, or decorous, is to have behavior that always fits the situation. It is to be neither too fast nor too slow, neither too bold nor too timid. A decorous person is one who always does what is fitting. One who is decorous talks when talk is necessary and is silent when silence is required. He can also laugh when laughter is appropriate.
The sixth qualification is to be hospitable (v. 2). The elders need to realize that serving the saints as overseers and shepherds requires much time because human life is full of turmoil. In times of fellowship the saints may tell the elders the entire history of their married life or family life. Out of politeness, the saints may say, “I am sorry to occupy so much of your time. Do you still have some time?” In order to avoid offending the saints, the elder must reply, “It is okay — I have plenty of time.” An elder may think that listening to a brother’s story is not very important, but to the brother it may be a lifeline because he thinks that there is no one besides the Lord Himself to whom he can tell his story. Many saints feel this way. We have to realize that human life is like a turbulent sea — there is much turmoil and little rest.
The elders also must realize that most Christians are weak — weak in their soul and even weaker in their spirit. Therefore, the elders need to help them to find rest by listening to their stories. If we can give them an hour or two so that they can release all that is on their heart, that will be a rest to them. We may not be able to solve their problems, but we can give them rest because they trust and respect us as elders. The saints find rest by telling the elders things that they cannot tell others. This is sovereignly ordained by God. As elders, we should not reject the saints who come to us for fellowship. It does not matter whether we can solve their problems. Actually, we cannot solve anyone’s problems, but we can provide rest for the saints by listening to their stories. I have seen this happen many times. We must be willing to give the saints enough time to relate everything. Moreover, just as an on-call physician must be available to provide medical care at any time, an elder must always be available to help the saints. This is part of what it means to be hospitable. Whatever the saints need, we have to give them. This indicates that to be an elder is a very difficult job.
The need to be hospitable is a severe test to the elders. It tests whether we love the members of the church and are compassionate, patient, and willing to be a sacrifice. We must sacrifice our time, our rest, and our material possessions. According to my experience and observation, no other qualification of the elders tests us as much. The sisters who want their husbands to become elders need to know that to be the wife of an elder is difficult because an overseer must be hospitable. A brother who needs to go somewhere may ask an elder for directions to the place. After the elder gives him directions, the brother may confess that he does not have a car or the money to hire a taxi. In order to be hospitable, the elder should then use his car to drive the brother where he needs to go. Even after explaining the location of the place and different ways to get there, if the elder will not take the brother himself, the brother may feel that the elder does not care for him. This kind of feeling among the saints may eventually lead to problems. It is difficult to imagine all the situations a brother will face as an elder. The elders must be willing to help the saints in all kinds of situations.
Being hospitable, which is an endless job, is a matter not of ability but of willingness. If the elder does not know how to find the place where a brother needs to go, he should still drive the brother to look for the place. If he does, the brother will be greatly touched and edified by the elder’s love. An elder may not be able to touch a brother’s heart by giving several messages, but by giving his time and effort, the elder will touch the brother’s heart with his love. To be hospitable is to be willing to give and be troubled, bothered, and exhausted in order to take care of others. Regardless of our knowledge or ability, we must be willing. This is the highest test.
The next qualification of the elders is to be “apt to teach” (v. 2). The word apt means “tending, inclined, likely.” An overseer should be able to teach, but the point here is that he must be willing to teach. This kind of teaching is not like that of schoolteachers but like parents’ teaching in the home. Schoolteachers teach students in schools because it is their job, but parents’ teaching of their children at home should be a habit in their living. If we have children, we should not only love our children but also have a habit to teach and instruct them. We should not merely command our children to do their homework but should instead offer our help. This is what it means to be apt to teach. The elders must have the habit and the willingness to teach the saints. An elder’s gift or ability to teach is of secondary importance; primarily, he must be concerned for the saints’ learning and build up a willingness and a habit to teach the saints.
Being apt to teach is another test of our genuine concern for the church and the saints. It is also a test of how much patience we have. Even if an elder has great ability, he must also be patient in order to properly teach the saints. It is not adequate to give messages; we must be willing to sit with a brother for several hours to help him see some crucial aspect of the truth. Although this will exhaust us and test us, it should not be something that we merely tolerate but something that we are inclined to do. Many saints in the church require individual help in learning the truth. With the phrase apt to teach the apostle Paul indicates that an overseer must have the concern, the willingness, and the habit to teach.
The first qualification in verse 3 is “not an excessive drinker.” Like “temperate” and “of a sober mind,” this is a matter of self-control. Some may argue that according to the wording here, the elders may drink but not excessively. However, it is quite difficult for people to control themselves once they begin drinking. Therefore, in order to control ourselves, it is best not to drink at all. In this matter we must control ourselves to the uttermost.
The next item in verse 3 is “not a striker, but forbearing.” This is related to the preceding qualification because many who drink excessively are strikers. When people are drinking, they cannot control their temper. The basic thought here is that we need to be calm and cool. Because drinking agitates and excites our temper, we should not drink. If we are calm, we will not quarrel or be a striker. To be forbearing, or mild, is to be agreeable and flexible in every situation. According to Paul’s word, to be an overseer is very difficult.
Verse 3 then says, “Not contentious.” To be contentious is to be quarrelsome. Not only should we not be a striker, but we should not even be quarrelsome. All these items indicate that an overseer must be very self-controlled, mild, and moderate. An overseer should never lose his temper. The elders cannot contend or fight with other saints but must be lenient and flexible with everyone in every situation.
Last, verse 3 says, “Not fond of money.” To be greedy is a matter of lust. Every lust needs to be controlled, bridled. To not be fond of money is to bridle our lust for money. Everyone has this lust, but an overseer must learn how to control it. The lust in our flesh is expressed mainly in sex, temper, and greed, or covetousness. These three areas are dealt with in the apostle’s charge: to be the husband of one wife is to control sexual lust; to be temperate, not a striker, and not contentious but forbearing is to control our temper; and to not be fond of money is to bridle our lust for money. Most of the qualifications of the elders in these verses are related to controlling these three kinds of lust. An elder must be one who exercises strict control in these three things.
The self-control that is required of an overseer is altogether a matter of life. As elders, we must live a life that has been dealt with by the cross of Christ so that the resurrection power will enable us to exercise such self-control. We should not say that no one can meet these requirements. If no one could make it, the apostle Paul would not have written it, nor would it be included in the Bible. These qualifications are not a kind of law or commandment; instead, they show us what the Lord can do in us. This is like the constitution of the kingdom in Matthew 5—7, which not only indicates what the kingdom requires but also proves and testifies how much the resurrection life can do in us. We believe God’s living Word. Whatever the Lord says will come to pass. Hence, we need to trust in His Word, receive it, and pray. We should not be disappointed by our apparent shortcomings. Instead, we should be encouraged that because the Word includes these qualifications, the resurrection life will produce them in us.
We should not isolate 1 Timothy 3:1-7 from the rest of the Epistle, which reveals the eternal life, God’s economy, which is His dispensing, and the manifestation of God in the flesh (6:12, 19; 1:4; 3:16). Thus, 1 Timothy 3:1-7 is actually a revelation of how much the resurrection life of the indwelling Christ can do in us. By ourselves we cannot meet these requirements, but the indwelling Christ can certainly meet them. However, we must be willing to cooperate with Him. Our flesh, old man, and natural life have been crucified on the cross, and it is now Christ who lives in us (Gal. 2:20). We need to cooperate with Him by having a desire and a willingness and by praying much. If we wait on the Lord, He will work out all these things from within us.
