We all have role models and we all aspire to be like these role models. As children of God, what kind of a role model from the bible can we look up to? Who in the bible is your role model? (Ladies, today I am only talking to men but it will be worthwhile for you to also read because what we will be talking about affects your children who are at this stage boys but will be men one day.). Is Paul your role model? What about Peter or James or Moses or even Abraham, who is your role model?
Would it not be better to have a role model from the bible instead of a role model from this earth that for now is under the rule of the prince of air? Have you ever asked yourself, based on what is shown on TV these days, what your child’s role model is or will be? Hip hop starts, actors, singers? Can you say that of all that is shown on TV these days, you are happy and confident that your child will be able to choose a good role model? Yes, No, not sure?
What about yourself, are you a good role model for your kids? Have you asked yourself this question? Have you ever though about what kind of a role model you would consider a good one? Are you that good role model? What attributes or personality will you seek in a person whom you call a good role model? Are you one?
Let us look at what I think is a good biblical role model for our kids and also what we as men who believe in God should aspire to become. These in my view are the attributes of what I call a good role model for my kids. By the way, these same attributes will make a good husband as well. This is the kind of person I personally aspire to become for my wife and kids.
I aspire and will like to carry the same qualifications of an Elder. Why, this was and still is the highest position that any man can occupy in the church of God to lead the church. An Elder is God’s steward who manages the church. You can bet that the qualifications of such a person must be impeccable to be able to occupy such high office. Now, although I might or might not be an elder of any church but, to have the same qualifications as an elder will in my view, make me the best husband, father and role model for my kids. Let’s see why I say this.
For starters, where does this thing of being an elder come from:
In the Old Testament, cities were ruled and judged by their “elders,” those with the greatest wisdom and experience in the community. By the New Testament period, prominent older men in the synagogues were called “elders.” Paul followed the convenient, conventional forms of synagogue leadership in his culture rather than instituting entirely foreign leadership structures. “In every city” meant that the different house churches in each city would each have their own leaders. Like much of old Greece, Crete had long been known for intercity rivalry.
Ok now, what are these qualifications:
Titus 1:5-9 (AMP)
For this reason I left you [behind] in Crete, that you might set right what was defective and finish what was left undone, and that you might appoint elders and set them over the churches (assemblies) in every city as I directed you.
6 [These elders should be] men who are of unquestionable integrity and are irreproachable, the husband of [but] one wife, whose children are [well trained and are] believers, not open to the accusation of being loose in morals and conduct or unruly and disorderly.
7 For the bishop (an overseer) as God’s steward must be blameless, not self- willed or arrogant or presumptuous; he must not be quick- tempered or given to drink or pugnacious (brawling, violent); he must not be grasping and greedy for filthy lucre (financial gain);
8 But he must be hospitable (loving and a friend to believers, especially to strangers and foreigners); [he must be] a lover of goodness [of good people and good things], sober- minded (sensible, discreet), upright and fair- minded, a devout man and religiously correct, temperate and keeping himself in hand.
9 He must hold fast to the sure and trustworthy Word of God as he was taught it, so that he may be able both to give stimulating instruction and encouragement in sound (wholesome) doctrine and to refute and convict those who contradict and oppose it [showing the wayward their error].
According to the passage above, these are the qualifications of an Elder:
The Donts
1) he must not have unquestionable integrity
2) he must not be reproachable
3) he must not have more than one wife
4) his children must not be untrained and unbelievers
5) he must not be full of blame
6) not self willed, arrogant or presumptuous
7) he must not be quick tempered
8) not given to drink ( does not mean not drinking alcohol at all, it simply means, not a drunkard)
9) not quick to fight
10) he must not be grasping and greedy for financial gain
The Dos
1) must be hospitable
2) lover of goodness
3) sober minded (sober minded does not mean not drunk, it means sensible and discreet)
4) upright and fair minded
5) devout and religiously correct
6) must have self restraint
7) hold fast to the sure and trustworthy word of God as he was taught it
8) give stimulation instruction and encouragement in sound doctrine
9) refute and convict those who contradict and oppose sound doctrine
This is what I believe a true man of God must aspire to become. I am not sure wether it is possible to be all of the above but I am sure going to try and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I will succeed.