High Standard Of Conduct
As I walk through life, I see expectations of behavior all over the place. The big challenge is that the standards of behavior are different for different people or so it seems. If you are a celebrity in our culture, you can get a free pass on the crazy things you do, because you’re a celebrity. If you’re a professional athlete, you can also do really stupid things publicly and not be held accountable or judged. It also seems that wealthy people also get to do and say pretty much what they want without repercussions. I know that while all of that appears to be the case, I believe I and all other humans are or will be held accountable for our actions. God’s Word sets the high standard of conduct. There are reasons behind the code of conduct found in the Word.
Paul lays out the guidelines for a church leader/overseer. It’s a daunting standard, but with the Lord’s help, I believe believers should aspire to this level. Check this out…
Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (1 Timothy 3:1-7 NIV)This is a good list for all believers, business leaders, REALTORS, workers at any job. Let’s face it, if I work hard at my own attitude and my behavior, I’m a lot better neighbor, co-worker and friend.
I want to be above reproach.
I want to be faithful to my wife.
I want to be temperate.
I want to be self-controlled.
I want to be respectable.
I want to be hospitable.
I want to be able to teach.
I want to be sober.
I want to be gentle.
I want to be generous.
I want to be humble.
I want my reputation remain solid.
This is quite a high standard of conduct, but I do believe it’s attainable. The journey is quite different when I walk in His Way and the destination is way different too!
Pressing On! Dwayne