A True Leader - Timothy

This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position.”

1 Timothy 3:1

Dwight D. Eisenhower, the thirty-fourth president of the United States, once spoke about the character qualities of a leader: “In order to be a leader, a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence the supreme quality of a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, on a football field, in an army, or in an office.”

Those are high standards, indeed. The apostle Paul instructed the young pastor Timothy to look for such qualities in those he assigned as elders in his church at Ephesus.

Timothy found himself in a tricky situation as a young pastor serving saints older than he was. Still, he faced the daunting responsibility of picking the right leaders for his congregation.

Paul instructed Timothy to look for leaders who had good personal lives, exemplary family lives, and character qualities such as self-control, wisdom, hospitality, and gentleness.

Timothy understood that God had called all believers to live by a higher standard than the world around them. He also understood that the Lord had set even higher standards for him and his leadership team. He knew that being a church leader meant consistently demonstrating the kind of character he wanted his congregation to emulate and the kind that motivated them to follow.

If you were to join Timothy’s church today, would you qualify as one of his leaders?

It is no small thing to be a leader—in your home, at work, or in church. If you aspire to a position of leadership, then you are called to a high standard of conduct. You must make your every step match your every word.