“For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed…”
Titus 1:7
I like Chick-Fil-A. It’s not just the food that is consistently good. The service is generally exceptional! Others may think it sounds too forced, but I like to hear the employees reply to my “thank you” with, “My pleasure!” At many fast food places, it seems like the person on the other side of the counter would rather be doing anything in the world other than taking your order. But at Chick-Fil-A, the cashier’s friendly “my pleasure,” whether sincere or not, implies to the customer, “I love to serve you.”
I’ve been examining my own heart regarding that very thought lately. Do I love to serve? Our text today explains that a man is not qualified to be an elder/bishop in a church if he is self-willed. That requirement makes sense when you consider that we commonly refer to such men as “ministers”. The Greek word often translated “minister” in the Scripture is also many times translated “servant”, for that’s what the minister is called to do–he loves to serve. Notice how Paul, Peter, and James introduce themselves in their letters: “…a bondservant of Jesus Christ…” (Rom 1:1, Jam 1:1, 2Pe 1:1) These men were not self-willed! In fact, the word “servant” used in these introductions is actually the word “slave”, signifying that their direction was not based on each passing whim of their own hearts but rather they took their direction from the Lord who had bought them with the price of His own blood! (1 Cor 7:23)
This attitude of not seeking to please ourselves should not be unique to the pastor. Listen to the apostle Paul’s instruction in 1Co 10:32-11:1: “Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” He didn’t seek to please himself but had a servant’s heart, which seeks to please others above himself. His instruction to us? “Follow my example!” The love of Christ in the believer prompts him to do the same. “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Gal 5:13)
And notice from Whom the apostle Paul learned this selfless attitude. He said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Who has ever been as selfless as the Lord Jesus? He always taught us both by word AND example. “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mat 20:27-28) Who else can say regarding the Father, “I always do those things that please Him.” He always walked in obedience to the Father’s will! May we follow His glorious example and no longer seek to please ourselves. “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.'” (Rom 15:1-3)
Jamie
