1 Timothy, Chapter 3

Well, if this little chapter isn’t just another reflection of two concepts we have chatted about before: 

1) How to be a Lord-Led Leader (LLL)

2) How to HONOR that same Lord.

OK, now that that’s done, let’s break those two things down and see what TRUTHS can be found. 🙂

SO, right off the bat, we get right into that first concept: LLL. The terms used here in Chapter 3 are “Overseer and Deacon.” And now, rather than get caught up in a great debate about the GENDER behind these roles, I will write this piece with a broad view — moving past those details and looking at what that role ENTAILS.

Because, as I read through the list of “requirements” (verses 2-7), it became apparent to me that they follow the ORDER God keeps laying out for us to use, and use consistently.

Did you notice how the first qualities listed involve our INNER character? Like, before you can lead well OUTSIDE your house, you gotta take care of things INSIDE your house, and that begins with INSIDE your SOUL. 

Yes! LLLs truly DO work on keeping their “soul scrubbed and swept clean” spiritually (verses 2, 6).

That is truly how truly GODLY qualities begin to come out of you NATURALLY and bring such value to your leadership style and impact (verse 7).

Did you see how the role of “spouse” was laid next (verse 2)? THAT was especially clear when listing roles of DEACONS (verse 12). And, well, if we have covered the VALUE roles of Spiritual Soul and Spiritual Spouse, just guess what is listed next?

If you guessed Spiritual KIDS, then you guessed correctly (verses 4, 12, 5)!

Which “roles” so nicely fit our Spiritual HOME Value ROLE as well (verse 12)!

I think it is SUPER cool how GOD so clearly commands us to give our time, attention and energy to our Spiritual “homes,” marital “homes,” parental “homes” and physical “homes” — BEFORE even thinking about serving OUTSIDE of those homes. (And, yes, you all know who did NOT get this totally correct or do this well for so many years — ahem, ME!! LOL! Gotta love GOD’s grace and GROWTH, literally!) 🙂

Yes, right here, GOD is giving a GIANT card of PERMISSION to CARE about what matters the most, in HIS ORDER — NO MATTER what anyone else says, what your brain says, or what society says, in order to grow with HIM. HE says to FOLLOW THIS ORDER FAITHFULLY and then POOF! Spiritual peace, prosperity and purpose pop into your world, and then, and only then, YOU can pop OUT and serve GOD well.

Plus, I think part of what he referenced as “testing” LLL’s heart (verse 10) is just THAT — will we or won’t we keep HIS GODLY ORDER, no matter what other demands come along, other items pull at our time and other people try to call us away?

And in my small world, that has been TRUE. I began to note that there ALWAYS was a season of “GROWTH” (though at the time it feels like pain, struggle, tension and challenge) before I was given the next level of leadership.

But the more and more I stayed STUCK to my FAITH-based goals, roles, values and ORDER (especially THROUGH the “challenge” spots!!!!), the more secure and CONFIDENT I became — love verse 9!!!! — and the MORE OUTSIDE-the-HOME leadership roles I gained (aka IMPACT opportunities, and you KNOW how much that drives me). LOL!

OK, final note on the word “Leadership” — it applies to EVERYONE. You may not think so and feel it is only for people in public positions, but nope.

YOU are always a “LEADER” to someone, somewhere in your world, whether you realize, recognize or even really want it or not. 

GOD totally calls us into caring for those in the world. (Remember the piece on “Tending to your SHEEP?”) 😉 And the best way to be the “best leader” is to follow this order we see here, intentionally investing in your 

1. spiritual life
2. marital life
3. parental life
4. home life 

Well, those are MY FOUR CORE Values, but they also seem to be GOD’S as well. 🙂 And then to stick with that, no matter what comes.

‘Cause THAT’s what makes a confident WOMAN of GOD (verse 9) who can then be CALLED into out-of-house leadership, ready and resilient because she is really settled in her SOUL.

It is so cool.

Yes, THAT growth journey has been so true for me. Has it been true for you?

Can’t wait to hear what you have to say on this one today. 

Carol 😉

Change-Choice-TRUTH