The Aged Women Likewise
Titus 2:2-3 (KJV) 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
When first reading the above text, the aged men made me think that older men is what God is looking for in leadership. Okay... I can live with that. Then I read the aged women likewise, and my first thought was, "Hmmm... maybe I don't qualify to be a leader after all. I don't consider myself old, Why would God only call old people to be leaders?" This is why it's a very good idea to own a Bible commentary, or have access to one on the internet. The phrase "aged women" speaks of the maturity required for the woman who desires to minister. "Whew!!!" I don't have to be "aged" to be in leadership, but I do need to be a woman who trusts God, prays, studies the Word and tries to be a godly Christian. Now this is something I need to work on.
The key word in these verses is likewise. Likewise means in like manner, even so, in the same way. Women leaders should act in the same way as men leaders. All leaders should be as Christ is to the Church. Wow... that's a big job, right? I know that I could never be just like Christ. He is the only righteous one. But, shouldn't we strive to be just like Him? Again, something I need to work on.
Matthew 5:48 (KJV) 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
So, not only have we learned that we don't have to be aged in years to be good leaders, but we should be spiritually mature. We have also learned that we need to thrive to be Christ-like. Not only in leadership positions, but in all that we do. Sometimes, you see people in leadership positions that appear to have the checklist complete but really don't. Being like Christ is the most important qualification there is.
I personally have learned that trusting in God more and praying more faithfully along with more Bible study will allow me to grow more in the Lord. If I grow more in the Lord, I become more Christ-like. If I become more Christ-like, I will be a successful leader.
Sneak Peek for Next Week: Sober, grave and temperate. How these 3 qualifications tie together and how we work to achieve them.
Becky Pritchett
When first reading the above text, the aged men made me think that older men is what God is looking for in leadership. Okay... I can live with that. Then I read the aged women likewise, and my first thought was, "Hmmm... maybe I don't qualify to be a leader after all. I don't consider myself old, Why would God only call old people to be leaders?" This is why it's a very good idea to own a Bible commentary, or have access to one on the internet. The phrase "aged women" speaks of the maturity required for the woman who desires to minister. "Whew!!!" I don't have to be "aged" to be in leadership, but I do need to be a woman who trusts God, prays, studies the Word and tries to be a godly Christian. Now this is something I need to work on.
The key word in these verses is likewise. Likewise means in like manner, even so, in the same way. Women leaders should act in the same way as men leaders. All leaders should be as Christ is to the Church. Wow... that's a big job, right? I know that I could never be just like Christ. He is the only righteous one. But, shouldn't we strive to be just like Him? Again, something I need to work on.
Matthew 5:48 (KJV) 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
So, not only have we learned that we don't have to be aged in years to be good leaders, but we should be spiritually mature. We have also learned that we need to thrive to be Christ-like. Not only in leadership positions, but in all that we do. Sometimes, you see people in leadership positions that appear to have the checklist complete but really don't. Being like Christ is the most important qualification there is.
I personally have learned that trusting in God more and praying more faithfully along with more Bible study will allow me to grow more in the Lord. If I grow more in the Lord, I become more Christ-like. If I become more Christ-like, I will be a successful leader.
Sneak Peek for Next Week: Sober, grave and temperate. How these 3 qualifications tie together and how we work to achieve them.
Becky Pritchett