CHARACTER COUNTS
TITUS 1:5-9
TITUS 1:5-9 NKJ
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
OBSERVATION:
The letter to Titus was the third of the pastoral letters. Timothy was the recipient of the first two.
Titus was a young pastor who was given the task of setting order in the churches on the island of Crete. The letter to Titus does not have the encouragement that we see in the letters to Timothy. We get the sense that Titus was a stronger leader.
The verses we are looking at today, list the qualifications for the leadership of these churches. But first, notice that Paul wanted things "set in order."
Where we see God working, we see a sense of order. In an earlier letter to the church at Corinth, Paul declares that God is not the author of confusion but of peace. The word for confusion is also translated disorder. (1 Corinthians 14:33). Obviously, not everything in a church will be perfect, but there should be a sense of order.
Then Paul lists the qualifications of those elders, leaders who will put things in order. It is not an accident that those charged with creating order needed to have a sense of order about their own lives also.
Blameless as a steward, manager, for God. Not perfect, but someone with a good reputation.
Not selfish, quick-tempered, addicted to wine, violent, and greedy for money.
He needs to have his house in order, which would include his children.
Kind to strangers. Loving what is good. Sensible, fair, devout, self-disciplined, and above reproach, whether public or private (Amp. Bible).
And lastly, holding strong to God's word with the ability to lead and correct those who are in error.
Quite a list. But quite an important job.
APPLICATION:
Character counts. Men may place a greater emphasis on talent and appearance, but those qualities did not make God's list.
For all of us, whether in leadership or not, our character is still the best witness we have to offer.