Qualification Five — Respectable | 1 Timothy 3:2

Here Paul is writing to his young protege Timothy and giving him instructions for getting the church in Ephesus back on track. He gives him a list of fourteen qualifications to establish leadership in the church that would help him with this task. The list addresses five categories: character, commitment, attributes, leadership abilities, and faith development. Today we look at the last in a string of three closely related attributes — sober-minded, self-controlled, and the one for today — respectable. So what does this qualification mean? This means that a leader has a good reputation that has earned him some public credibility. But this doesn't mean he has public credibility and, at the same time, lacks private conviction. This man is not a hypocrite. Instead, he is a leader who has character in both private and public because he cares about how he represents God's name. So he tends to his character, both in private and public, because he knows he represents God's name, which matters to him. In our time, there are plenty of examples of church leaders who have lost respect. Church leaders whose sermons I have followed and books I have read. Some of these men have deeply impacted my spiritual life but have lost public respect. Just last week, I picked up one of these books. The title is "Too Busy Not To Pray," by a church leader named Bill Hybels. His book deeply impacted my prayer life. But after his fall, do you know, I cannot find that book anywhere? There were millions sold until he lost respect because of some private shortcomings. And this is a reminder that public respect is gained slowly over time and lost in seconds by small private shortcomings. So if you want to be a leader in the church or otherwise, give attention not just to gaining, earning, or developing public respect but to the small private decisions you make that could unhinge it. And as you become respectable, don't get hooked by the attention your respect might earn you. Keep at the front of your mind that this attribute is not about others respecting your name but rather God's name. He's the one who deserves all respect. ASK THIS: What small and private decisions do you need to address? DO THIS: Address them before you lose all respect. PRAY THIS: God, I desire to be a respectable man, leader, husband, and father. Clarify all unholy desires, thoughts, and actions that might tarnish your name and my witness in this world. PLAY THIS: Better Man. (Play it again, and louder. It's so good.) Check out other all Vince Miller's videos and audios for small groups at: https://beresolute.org/ Get Vince's most widely read resources The Daily Devotional at: https://beresolute.org/mdd Check out more ALL IN products like the one Vince is wearing at: https://beresolute.org/product-category/all-in-hats/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Vince socially: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/millervince INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vinceleemiller LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincemiller TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vinceleemiller