1 Timothy 3:1

1 Timothy 3:1 says, This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.  Paul said that if a person desired to be a bishop, that he desired a good work.  Of course, I believe that a person must be called to be a bishop, or preacher, and not just become one because they want to be one.  

Verse two adds, A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;  Paul then lists some of the qualifications for being a bishop, or preacher, or maybe more specifically a pastor.  We usually focus on the husband of one wife and tend to ignore some of the other listed qualifications, but I don't believe that Paul was doing this.  All are equally important.

Verse three continues, Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;   I believe that we often fail to see that not being greedy for money as a limiting factor.  As a matter of fact, many preachers seem to believe that they should have an abundance of wealth, and too many seem to think that they should be able to move to larger churches and gain more wealth and would be unwilling to serve as pastor of a smaller struggling church where they might have to struggle financially themselves. 

Verse four states, One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;  I believe that this requirement is often overlooked, and I don’t believe that preachers are always going to be able to lead their children to always do what is right, and after they reach a certain age the children become responsible for their own actions, but a preacher must do his best to lead them to be obedient to God.  I believe most preachers with children would quite often fail to meet this requirement.  Still, it is God’s standard for preachers, and they should do their best to fulfill it under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  

Verse five adds, (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)  This is a question that only God can answer.  We know that the answer should be he can’t, but if God has called a man to preach, He can empower him to do so, even if he fails in some of these areas.  

Verse six continues, Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.  A novice would be a new Christian, no matter how old they might be.  If a new Christian was to suddenly be over a congregation, he might tend to become full of self-pride thinking that he was somehow better than other Christians because he had suddenly come to a position that made him better than the average Christian.  Of course, if the new Christan and other Christians were following the leadership of the Holy Spirit, this would never be an issue.  

Verse seven concludes. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.  Paul said that God also expects preachers or pastors to have a good reputation in the community outside the church.  Even if there will always be some people who will speak badly of preachers, it should not be because the preacher did something that would make them look bad in the community.  I also believe that if they do something wrong and repent and take responsibility for it that if God has called them that He will still work through them.  Still, it might be hard for the community to accept them.