Maturity for Leadership.1 Timothy 3:6-7.
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Dear Family,
As we conclude on the qualifications of overseers, Paul mentions two things that we are to guard against:
Conceit (v. 6). Leadership places a person on a pedestal. For a new believer, this could lead to the same attitude that led to the condemnation of the devil – pride. People should be allowed to mature first. As they grow in Christlikeness, they also will grow in humility.
Conflict (v. 7). The Christian community is not isolated. It is in the world and interacting with people of the world daily. We do business with them, visit their schools, hospitals, and restaurants, etc, and even employ some of them. If a church leader is at loggerheads with outsiders and not respected by them, he may be disgraced and end up compromised. When the church is choosing its leaders, it also needs to listen to the voices outside.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.