The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. (1 Timothy 3:1 ESV)
I struggled as I thought about this passage.
There have been times when I have felt, encouraged, even aspired, to be in some sort of overseer role in the Church. To serve so that others may be able to exercise their spiritual gifts to the fullest.
But, just as a few posts ago, I am afraid. I fear that because of my immaturity I will disgrace Christianity, that I will cause people to stumble. I fear I might already have.
Why so easily defeated? When God is sovereign above all things? When there is already forgiveness and victory in Jesus? When there is great power in the Holy Spirit?
Well… I am immature. I need to grow.
Also, I might be approaching this the wrong way. I am focusing too much on the Task, when I should really be focusing on the Task-Master. My strength and my willpower will fail, and I will face discouragement if I focus only on the task. My focus should be on God. To be “a man after God’s own heart”.
It’s interesting that the chapter ended with “The Mystery of Godliness”.
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16 ESV)
I have no idea what it really means, but it’s interesting for me that this mystery of godliness does not talk about how we should talk or act or think. Godliness is about Jesus, and that’s a comforting thought.