… 3not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. 4He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?) …
Spiritual maturity as exemplified in elders also includes freedom from the bondage of addictive substances. In the first century, wine was the culprit that was subject to abuse. This, of course, does not mandate that an elder can never drink wine. In the same way that it is not money that is the root of all evil but the love of money (see 1 Tim. 6:10), so also wine is not the problem but being addicted to wine. We do not make a rule that Christians cannot use money, so too, we should not be legalistic in requiring Christians to avoid all alcohol. However, wisdom mandates that we tread carefully, and all who desire spiritual maturity will not discard caution at the altar of license. One would have to be blind not to see the damage done by those whose drinking has gotten out of hand. The same is true of those whose pursuit of money has become obsessive. Greed and drunkenness are both to be avoided like the plague, for both can destroy our usefulness to the Lord and His people. But in our time, many forms of addiction are equally destructive: marijuana, opioids, tobacco, gambling, lotteries, video gaming, media, and the list goes on. Spiritual maturity means being in control of our impulses.
We are not to be pugnacious, that is, violent or a bully, someone who tends to be always ready for a fight. This speaks to more than avoiding physical altercations but also excludes emotional or sexual bullying, anything that uses superior power of any kind to dominate other people. Of course, authority in the church legitimately carries inherent power, but that should be modulated by the attending characteristics of being gentle and peaceable.
Spiritual maturity should be reflected in the home and not just publicly. It has been well said that a man’s family life is the proving ground for showcasing his ability to lead and shepherd. The church is God’s family, and being an overseer of God’s family is very much like being a father in the family unit. Paul’s reasoning is clear: Spiritual maturity begins in the home. If it is not there, then it won’t be there when occupying the office of overseer/elder.
Does this mean a spiritually mature person’s family is perfect? Of course not, for otherwise all would be disqualified. But it does mean that a man has a reputation for managing his household well, including the children. This characteristic should be evident to all.
Lord, help me live my life transparently so all can see my growth in Christ.
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