Context No. 3169 of 4322 · Titus

Titus 1:1-9: in context

1Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before time began; 3but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior, 4to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. 5I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you— 6if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior. 7For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward, not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; 8but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled, 9holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.

Paul writes to Titus, left in Crete to set things in order and appoint elders in every town. And he lists what an elder must be: above reproach, faithful in marriage and family, and, as God's steward, not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain; but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, disciplined, holding firmly to sound teaching so he can encourage and correct.

Notice what the qualifications for leadership are, and are not. They are almost entirely about character, not talent, charisma, or eloquence. Above reproach, faithful at home, self-controlled, hospitable, a lover of good, not greedy or hot-tempered, these are the marks of a person fit to lead God's people. And there is one required skill: holding firmly to sound doctrine, able to teach and to correct. God's standard for leadership is a life of proven, humble character joined to faithfulness to the truth. Who a leader is matters more than how impressive they are.

Do I value in leaders, and cultivate in myself, the proven character God requires, more than the talents the world admires?

Sources

Titus 1:7: "For the overseer must be blameless, as God's steward, not self-pleasing, not easily angered."
Titus 1:9: "Holding to the faithful word... that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine."
1 Timothy 3:2: "The overseer therefore must be without reproach."