Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers"
If, by the Holy Spirit, you fill a position of leadership in the church, then it is of
paramount importance that you keep watch over yourselves. Satan is out to deceive any one,
especially those eager to follow God. A leader or overseer should be especially careful
and diligent with regards to his relationship and walk with God. He must see to it that
his walk with God is strongly established and that no error or sin creeps in – only
then will he be able to watch over the flock that God has placed under his care.
What are the characteristics of an overseer? One can look at some of these qualifying
characteristics found in 1Tim 3 from verse 2. The first is he must be "above
reproach". No-one should be able to find fault with his daily living. He should also
not be a busy body, always meddling in the affairs of others. He should be upright and
self-controlled. Hospitality is also a part of such a person’s character. If you use
the little God has given you, like the widow who shared her oil and bread with Elijah, God
will increase what you have. We must not limit His miraculous power because of a lack of
faith.
An overseer must be able to teach those who are confused or have been made insane by
the devil. He should not be a "drunkard" or be "violent but be
gentle". He should not be a "lover of money" (6:10). His everyday life
should be a sermon to those around him. The text in 1Tim 3: 4 & 5 refers to the fact
that if an overseer cannot manage his family, then he won’t be able to care for the
church either.
It also important to realise that an overseer is a part of the flock and is not boss
over it. He is not there to lord it over others. He also a child of God bought by the
precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is no more than any other child of God. Thus,
with this attitude, he should serve the church and with all his strength, care for those
precious souls entrusted to him. His whole desire should be centred around Christ and he
should have a single goal in mind, to fulfil the task given to him by the Holy Spirit in a
pure and yet humble way.
May God raise up Pauls who are focused and remain on track, unlike those who he
referred to in 6:10 who have "strayed from the faith."
(The legend of the King, the princess and the golden shoe placed to test the focus of the
suitors was then told, as an example of keeping our eyes on the goal and not being
side-tracked.)
