It's a good thing if a man desires to serve the Church as an elder, but what is this desire? It has to be something deeper than just thinking it would be a neat office to fill. It has to be something that the Lord has deeply rooted in the man's heart.
When looking for a man to serve as an elder, we need to look for someone who shows a spirit of humility. Is he humble enough to listen, especially to God? Is he humble enough to serve? Even Jesus came to earth to serve others, not Himself. We need to look for someone who cares practically for others and helps them grow. A potential elder also needs to be humble enough to pray and be rebuked by God's Word.
We need to look for a man who is marked by wisdom – knowing what to do and how to do it. A wise shepherd knows how and when to lead the sheep spiritually. A wise man values others' opinions and will seek out answers to questions that he may not know. A wise man knows when and when not to fight.
If a man is desiring to serve as an elder, what is he desiring right now? What is his goal for himself and his family? Is his focus on Jesus and His Kingdom?
You'll never find a perfect elder, but he should be a man who hungers and thirsts after righteousness and knows that this can only be satisfied in Jesus. He needs to be a man who is desiring the right things. |
