Qualifications

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (I Timothy 3:1-7) 

          Imagine a world in which the man or woman who wanted to be a leader, a boss, a manager, a teacher, a politician, etc., had to prove himself/herself competent at life, a good spouse, parent, or at least family member and citizen. Suppose society set the standard that anyone wishing to hold office had to be of the highest moral standards and were expected to behave at the highest degree of propriety. I’m sure the response is that “not everyone can live that way.” Maybe not, but is that a reason to lower the standards? We seem to have done that for a long time now, and it doesn’t seem to have done us much good.

          An interesting thing about all the characteristics listed is that they are all characteristics of the emotionally, financially, relationally, psychologically, and functionally stable person. As a part of society, this individual has the attributes that lead to a strong, healthy society. In living this way, and in promoting living this way, the person is working toward what is best for himself/herself, that person’s family and for society. In other words, that person is loving others as himself. 

         Those who maintain that their private lives are no one’s business hate others as they hate themselves. They are not being the best examples possible if they refuse to be an example at all. The people they are leading will not live according to standards they do not. Someone cannot say (as one of my bosses did) that it’s OK to lie to the family member of a customer, or that “it’s not entirely unethical” and therefore, it’s OK, and expect that those being led are not going to take the same attitude toward the leader or his organization. If you have no problem with lying to others or stealing from others, you should expect that others will have no problem with lying to you, or stealing from you. 

         All of this comes down to demonstrated trustworthiness. When you’re looking for a leader, find someone you can trust with your money, with your reputation, with your children, with your spouse, with your parents, and with your passwords. This isn’t just good advice for your choices of leaders. It’s also good advice for your choice of friends, spouse, employers, employees. Even more, it’s great advice for yourself. Be the person who can be trusted with your money, your reputation, your children, your spouse, your parents and your passwords.