The Elder's Self-Watch - Leadership Matters, Lesson 9

Fifty kilometres off the mainland of North Carolina, the Atlantic waters have shaped a geologic wonder. The accumulation of sand and sediment have formed a string of peninsulas and islands which stretch some 320 kilometres along the coastline. These barrier islands, also known as the Outer Banks, are so named because they serve as a natural breakwater, protecting the mainland from raging waves and storms. Since the Outer Banks absorb the brunt of the Atlantic's wave activity, vast stretches of relatively calm and shallow waters lay between the islands and the mainland.

Although the Outer Banks have dependably protected the mainland from the sometimes volatile Atlantic waters, this protection hasn't come without cost. The same powerful forces which created the barrier islands also produce treacherous conditions for mariners. Since collections of ever-shifting underwater sandbars are found upwards of 50 kilometres off the mainland, passing vessels can suddenly find themselves in unusually shallow waters, and unexpectedly run aground. Because these shoals are in constant flux, mapping the region for safe passage is futile.

The volatility of the region is the product of a combination of powerful phenomena. It is here where the Labrador Current, flowing along the mainland, bringing cold Arctic waters from the North, meets the formidable Gulf Stream, bringing warm, fast-moving waters from the Gulf of Mexico. When these currents clash, the force generated is enough to produce violent localized weather, abundant steep waves, high winds, and the shifting of tons of sand.

To exacerbate these treacherous conditions, there is the continual conflict between prevailing seasonal winds, potential hurricanes, and damaging nor'easters. A large vessel caught in this kind of weather, along this 480-kilometre stretch of water, is in dire trouble since there are no safe ports or inlets in which to seek refuge.

The confluence of these dangers has created the perfect conditions for repeated maritime disasters. Thousands of vessels, both ancient and modern, have met their fate in these deceptive waters. The accumulation of shipwrecks has earned the region, especially around Cape Hatteras and the Diamond Shoals, the notorious moniker, "The Graveyard of the Atlantic."

Today, the weathered remains of some wooden wrecks still peak out of shallow waters, serving as a foreboding warning to any impatient seafarer who might be considering passing too closely to the Outer Banks instead of giving them a wide berth.

It's not as if the region is unnavigable however. The wise, experienced and watchful helmsman will know when to stick close to shore, and when to head to deep waters. He'll know when to avoid the Gulf Stream and when to use it to his advantage. By prioritizing safety over haste, he will be able to navigate the same waters that have claimed the lives of others. He knows that careful planning, attention to weather patterns, wise patience, and a sober respect for the potential dangers can go a long way. He is also well aware that if he were to swerve from these things, he might also find himself shipwrecked.

The life and ministry of an elder is similarly fraught with danger. Personal temptations, spiritual responsibilities, persistent opponents, mission drift, and a myriad of other hidden dangers can sometimes make navigating life a treacherous ordeal. For this reason, the wise elder, like the watchful helmsman, should both maintain a sober awareness of potential dangers, and a clear-headed focus upon the priorities which will see him through. Taking this approach, the faithful elder can avoid catastrophic shipwreck.

Paul had these realities in mind as he encouraged young Timothy to stay the course as he ministered in Ephesus. Note the warning which accompanied Paul’s charge:

1 Timothy 1:18-19 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,

The potential for spiritual shipwreck is a real danger. So real, that Paul actually named names after warning Timothy. He continued:

1 Timothy 1:20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Like the foreboding wrecks peering out of the waters of the Atlantic warning over-confident seafarers, the lives of men like Hymenaeus and Alexander also serve as sobering warnings to any who might enter ministry. They swerved from the truth, from a sincere faith, allowed their consciences to be hardened, and consequently suffered total disaster. Such wreckages are all around us today as well. Men who started well, but who later swerved from the truth, succumbed to temptation, or were swallowed up by their own hubris. Their disqualification should steel the resolve of every faithful elder to remain faithful, watchful, humble, and pure.

Thankfully, like the waters surrounding the Outer Banks, ministry life, though potentially dangerous, is also navigable. With proper priorities, biblical knowledge and a determination to maintain a disciplined self-watch, the faithful elder can not only avoid shipwreck, but accomplish all that the Lord has called him to do.

Earlier in his letter to Timothy, Paul shared just what priorities would keep Timothy, and every elder, safe through troubled waters. He said:

1 Timothy 1:5-7 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

The goal of all ministry is love. Not just any love, but a love which proceeds forth from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. It’s when men swerve from this fundamental triad that they make a mess of their ministry, and ultimately shipwreck their own faith.

For the remainder of this chapter, we will consider these essential aspects of an elder’s character and how he might guard them in order to remain qualified and fruitful in ministry.

An Elder Must Maintain a Pure Heart

First of all, in order to avoid ministry and personal shipwreck, the faithful elder must stay the course in maintaining a pure heart. According to Paul, engendering such a heart in the lives of people is one fundamental aim of ministry, and so should certainly be present in any elder.

Biblically, the heart of man encompasses far more than ideas of affection or emotion. In addition to seeing the heart as the seat of affection, emotion, and desire, the Hebrews saw wisdom, discernment, desire, and intellect as emanating from the heart. Everything which collectively shapes our worldview, value system, priorities, and ultimately our behaviour, flows from the heart. Understood this way, the heart of a person becomes the truest representation of who that person really is.

What does a man really believe? What are his deepest desires? What does he genuinely feel? What are his honest thoughts? What does he sincerely love? What does he supremely value? How does he actually want to behave? What really motivates him?

It’s this understanding of the heart which appears in the Shema as Moses encourages Israel to sincere, whole-personed worship of the Lord. He says:

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Heart worship, is whole worship. The genuine worshiper honours the Lord intellectually, emotionally, and volitionally. All that is within him, responds wholly to all that he knows about God. And this worship is sincere. Worshipping from the heart means that one worships without duplicity. His worship is a genuine reflection of what resides in his heart. He genuinely believes, sincerely loves the Lord, and therefore acts with pure motives. Jesus said of such a person, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matt 5:8).” On the other hand, the man who worships, or ministers, from an impure heart is a hypocrite who is far from God, and fit for judgment.

When Paul tells Timothy that he must maintain a pure heart. He is encouraging him to ensure that his ministry is always motivated by an inner-man which is wholly devoted to the Lord. A disconnect between heart and action, or heart and words, is what characterized the worst rebels in the Old Testament, and the severest of hypocrites in Christ’s day.

Jesus rebuked the hypocritical Pharisees by applying to them Isaiah’s condemnation of Israel. He said:

Matthew 15:7-9 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Did some of these men start out well, only to later allow their hearts to swerve from the truth, while retaining only an outward show of godliness? Most likely. What is clear is that it is possible to hold a position of spiritual authority while one’s heart is not in it. If Timothy were to be a faithful servant of the Lord, waging a good warfare, he would have to ensure that no such disconnect ever occurred in his life. His ministry would have to flow from a sincere, whole-personed worship. In other words, he would have to minister from a pure heart.

As you consider becoming an elder, consider whether or not this desire flows from a pure heart. Do you have a single-minded devotion to the kingdom of God and his righteousness? Are you first and foremost a genuine worshipper of the Lord? Are your motives for ministry pure? Can you sincerely encourage others to a develop a love which springs forth from a pure heart, because you are personally committed to loving God with all of your heart?

The idea of a pure heart carries with it not just a motivational purity (as we’ve seen above), but also a moral purity. When Paul wrote to Timothy the second time, he once against warned him concerning those who had “swerved from the truth (2 Tim 2:18).” Hymenaeus and Philetus had shipwrecked their own faith, and were “upsetting the faith of some.” If Timothy were to protect himself from such temptations, he would have to ensure that he was a “vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work (2 Tim 2:21).” Paul continued:

2 Timothy 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

According to Paul, those who “call on the Lord from a pure heart” are those who have fled youthful passions. These passions include the “iniquity” of verse 19, the quarrelsomeness, impatience, harshness, and unkindness of verses 23-25, and everything opposing the righteousness, faith, love, and peace of verse 22.

The pure-hearted elder is one who has “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” and who has determined to “renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live [a] self-controlled, upright and godly [life] in the present age (Gal 5:24; Titus 2:12).” If he is pure in heart, he strives to remain morally pure.

Maintaining a moral purity requires that an elder exercise a robust self-watch. That is, he must shield himself from temptation, while ensuring that he is actively pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace. On the one hand, he implements appropriate safeguards in his life, protecting himself from being exposed to things which enflame his fleshly passions, and on the other he is faithful in tending to the means of grace which the Lord has provided for spiritual development. In other words, he protects and he pursues; he guards and he grows. He shares the attitude of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:

Psalm 119:9-11 Beth How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

The Psalmist understood the importance of a pure heart to genuine worship and so he took appropriate action. First, he sought the Lord with his whole heart, next he prayed for divine protection, and lastly, he actively stored up the word of God in his heart. He certainly possessed a motivational purity (“with my whole heart I seek you”) but he knew he needed to also maintain a moral purity. This led him to immerse himself in the word of God. In contrast, the unfaithful elder has let down his guard, and has forsaken a necessary self-watch. Unlike the Psalmist, he no longer seeks the Lord with his whole heart, has little desire for purity, and therefore neglects the word of God as a means of personal sanctification.

Elders must guard their hearts. It is possible to start off with sincere motivations for ministry but to later grow corrupt, or cold. The allure of money, notoriety, or sensuality can lead men to sin. Conflicts, disappointments, and betrayals can lead them to cynicism and distrust. Either way, the pure motivations for ministry with which they began are lost.

Since hearts are drawn away to impurity before it is noticeable in words and actions, many pulpits are filled with hypocrites. Men who no longer have a single-minded commitment to the kingdom of God and His righteousness, but who keep on teaching as if they do. God forbid that become true of you or I. We must heed Paul’s warning to Timothy:

1 Timothy 4:16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Timothy’s own perseverance and the perseverance of those to whom he ministered were dependent upon his personal watchfulness. He would have to be on guard at all times. He would have to take seriously the temptations and dangers which face men in positions of spiritual leadership. He would have to be careful to tend to the means of grace, ensuring that he is growing in love for the Lord and his people, and not at all growing cold. You and I have the very same calling. In order to avoid personal shipwreck, we must maintain a pure heart.

Next, Paul told Timothy that “the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:5).”

An Elder Must Maintain a Good Conscience

What do kneeling in prayer, and laying down to sleep have in common? It’s at these times when we are most often struck by our guilty conscience. It’s when we approach the Lord in prayer that our unconfessed sin seems to loom large. It’s when our head hits our pillow that we are often struck by the offenses we’ve caused throughout the day, or the duties that we’ve neglected.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be this way. The Lord has provided repentance, reconciliation and the Spirit’s empowerment so that we can maintain a clear conscience before Him, and others. So, what exactly is a “good conscience?”

As we’ve already noted in this book, an elder must be above reproach. We said:

To be above reproach is to be beyond blame, or to be unaccusable. It means that there is nothing in this man’s character or lifestyle which could open him up to legitimate criticism. There is nothing which would cause others to undermine, or dismiss his ministry as an ambassador of Christ. There are no glaring character faults which might weaken his credibility and cause others to have a hard time accepting his teaching.

To define what it is to have a “good conscience” simply, we could say that it is the personal confidence that one has remained above reproach in his conduct and character. It’s a self-evaluation which sees no outstanding reason why he might be legitimately blamed or accused by others, himself, or before the Lord.

Of course, such an evaluation is made with an awareness that none are ultimately perfect before the Lord. Yet, even with that caveat, Paul could confidently testify, “So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man (Acts 24:16).” And, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day (Acts 23:1).”

The man with a good conscience is a man who takes pains to live before God, and men honourably (Heb 13:18). Spiritually, he has a healthy, reverential fear of God and seeks to order his life in obedience to him. Personally, he has a character shaped by the principles of God’s word. Relationally, he is known to be a man of integrity, sincerity, and honesty. He is fair, equitable, honest, and just in his dealings with others. When he sins, he is quick to repent and when he offends others, he is quick to reconcile. So that, when he comes before the Lord to worship, he can be confident that the Lord will hear him (Matt 5:23ff; 6:15). As for those men in ministry, a clear conscience is also maintained by ensuring he has faithfully fulfilled his calling (1 Tim 4:6).

If an elder is to avoid personal and ministry shipwreck, he must consistently maintain a good conscience. Paul told Timothy:

1 Timothy 1:18-19 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,

Further, Paul ensured that only such men would be appointed as deacons when he wrote that, “They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience (1 Tim 3:9.” This was in contrast to the false teachers whose “consciences [were] seared (1 Tim 4:2),” and “defiled (Titus 1:5).”

Let us now look at some areas in which the faithful elder must be careful to maintain a good conscience.

A Good Conscience Toward the World

Consider what Peter said concerning the power of a good conscience:

1 Peter 3:14-16 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

According to Peter, a good conscience provides powerful assurances when a believer is slandered by others. Christians have always faced a measure of hostility from the culture, and always will. We preach a gospel which confounds human wisdom, and offends human sensibilities. We also preach and live a holiness which naturally condemns the lawlessness of our perverse culture. For these reasons, we should not be surprised when the world hates us, just like it hated Christ.

So then, is every criticism or accusation lodged against Christians to be dismissed? No. Sometimes the rejection which Christians experience is well-deserved. That is, through harshness, hypocrisy, or hostility, believers sometimes become their own worst enemy. Forgetting that the gospel is an offense in and of itself, they sometimes share it offensively. Or, in calling out the sins of the culture, they sometimes turn a blind eye to the obvious sins of the church. In these instances, they have failed to maintain a good conscience.

According to Peter, when we are suffering for righteousness’ sake, if we answer our opponents with gentleness and respect, we have no need to fear, or to be troubled. There is a confidence which accompanies a good conscience. Even the evil slander of a hostile culture can roll off the back of a man who knows that he has been faithful to his Lord and blameless in the way he has handled others.

On the other hand, what if that same slander has an element of truth to it? What if a man is not being reviled for his good behaviour, but for his misbehaviour? Instead of the culture being put to shame, he is put to shame. He no longer has a good conscience before God and others, but has instead misrepresented God and offended others.

A faithful elder is ever-watchful and on guard against such a scenario. He strives to maintain a good conscience through obedience. Obedience in his relationship with God, and obedience in how he responds to people in and outside the church. When slander, and accusations come his way he is not overcome with feelings of insecurity, fear, or doubt because his conscience is clear. When such situations arise, he can say, with the writer of Hebrews, “Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things (Heb 13:18).”

A Good Conscience in Ministry

Next, a faithful elder not only maintains a good conscience by dealing honourably with the world, but he does so through faithfulness in ministry. After Paul wrote three chapters of instruction to Timothy regarding what he was to teach others in Ephesus, he wrote this:

1 Timothy 4:6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

We will deal more with the ministry of the word in the next chapter. For our purposes here however, it is enough to point out that it was Timothy’s faithfulness in teaching apostolic doctrine which would grant him the confidence that he was “a good servant of Christ Jesus.”

This is very important for the faithful elder to understand. As most preachers will testify, there may be no other element of ministry which brings greater feelings of self-doubt than the preaching of the word of God. It should not be this way, but our flesh often makes it so.

After hours of study and further hours of preparation, a sermon is finally preached, to unknown results. There is no fanfare and no immediate evidence of fruit. In fact, sometimes the only feedback one receives is negative. Pile this on top of the preachers existing insecurities and it is a recipe for continual discouragement. So, what is the cure? A good conscience.

A preacher’s confidence should not come from positive feedback, or personal feelings, but from the knowledge that he has faithfully taught sound doctrine, from a pure heart. His faithfulness grants him a clear conscience before God and others, and this is what sustains him as he gives himself to preaching the word, week-in and week-out.

Considering this potential for discouragement and self-doubt, a clear conscience should be coveted by the faithful elder and should therefore drive him to “keep a close watch on [himself] and on the teaching (1 Tim 4:16).” Paul gave Timothy similar encouragement in his second letter. He wrote:

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

No matter how others might respond to the teaching or preaching of the word of God, the faithful elder can stand before God unashamed, with confidence of his approval, when he is careful to properly handle and accurately teach the scripture. This attitude will not only protect the faithful elder from discouragement but will strengthen him against temptations to deviate from sound doctrine. More precious to him than human accolades is the ability to stand before God with a good conscience, knowing that the Lord approves of his ministry.

In addition to maintaining a good conscience by ensuring he preaches a sound message, the faithful elder is also careful to always use sound methods. Paul reminded the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 4:2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

Paul could confidently answer the slander of his critics by simply pointing to the way he and his companions conducted their ministry. They did not use disgraceful, deceptive, or secretive means to secure the obedience of others. They did not alter or misrepresent the word of God. Instead, they simply preached the truth openly and plainly. This provided Paul with such a clear conscience that he could confidently add “we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” Paul was confident that any honest observer would have to conclude that he conducted his ministry honourably. To claim otherwise would be nothing but dishonest and insincere.

Paul had previously written similarly:

2 Corinthians 1:12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

Again, Paul could answer his critics from a clear conscience because he knew that his ministry was characterized by purity, godliness, and sincerity. He did not resort to human wisdom but instead rested in the grace of God. So too, the faithful elder should pursue a clear conscience by using only the Lord’s means for ministry.

A Good Conscience Toward Others

Lastly, we should add briefly that a faithful elder’s good conscience not only stems from his life of moral purity, his fidelity to sound doctrine, his honourable dealings in the world, and his commitment to using the Lord’s means for ministry, but also from his loving interactions with others in the church. This has the potential to be a lengthy discussion, but we will only touch upon it.

Ministry is about people, and as such and elder will constantly interact with men and women of varying personalities and at varying stages of spiritual maturity. The potential for misunderstandings and offenses is great.

The faithful elder, in maintaining a good conscience, will ensure that his interactions with others are non-offensive, and gracious (Eph 4:29; 1 Cor 10:32). When offenses do occur, he must be quick to seek reconciliation. If he is at fault, he must quickly repent and seek forgiveness (Matt 5:23-24). If others have offended him, he must consider whether he can simply absorb the hurt and keep on loving, or if necessary, lovingly approach his brother in order to restore harmony (1 Cor 6:7; Matt 18:15). In either case, his goal is to maintain a clear conscience before his brothers, and his Lord.

A Recap

At this point, it might be helpful to be reminded of what has brought us here. Remember that Paul wrote to Timothy that, “the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” He then warned that, “certain persons, by swerving from these, had wandered away into vain discussion (1 Tim 1:5-6).” He then later charged Timothy in this way:

1 Timothy 1:18-19 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,

From this we have concluded that in order to avoid personal and ministry shipwreck, faithful elders must remain faithful to the threefold aim of ministry which is a love which issues forth from, a pure heart, a good conscience, and as we will consider next, a sincere faith.

An Elder Must Maintain a Sincere Faith

A faithful elder sees his ministry as that of teaching the Lord’s message, using the Lord’s means, to see the Lord produce a people who love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. He sees himself as one who must first embody that same love.

Take for instance, Timothy. Although Paul told Timothy that the aim of his ministry ought to be a love which issues forth from a sincere faith, he also said this about Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

Timothy ministered from a sincere faith, in order to see others develop a sincere faith. The same is true of every faithful elder.

Some attach themselves to Jesus looking for a community to join, others looking for a cause to defend, and some for comforts to enjoy. The genuine believer however follows Jesus because they sincerely believe that he is the saviour of the world, and the Lord of all. Such a person loves and trusts Jesus with their entire lives. Timothy was such a man.

When one looked at Timothy’s life it was self-evident that he was a genuine believer. He sincerely loved the Lord, just as did his mother and grandmother. Ministry for him was clearly more than a vocation, it was a life of service rendered to the Lord whom he loved.

Everything we’ve seen in this chapter can only flow from a regenerate heart. Each of the three-fold facets of love which are to be the aim of an elder’s ministry are the product of genuine salvation. Consider what the writer of Hebrews penned:

Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Through the blood of Jesus we can not only approach the living God, but we can do so with confidence. Since he stands ministering as our high priest, we can draw near with a true heart, a clean conscience, and a full assurance of faith. These three are products of salvation, and according to Paul, the aim of all faithful ministry.

We would be naïve to think that every man who holds the office of elder is also a genuine believer. Some may be self-deceived, others out-and-out charlatans. Regardless, it is incumbent upon every elder, and every man who desires to be an elder to examine his own heart to ensure that his is a sincere faith.

If he does not first possess a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith, then it will be an impossibility for him to lead others to mature in the same. He has no business in the office of elder and will only serve to upset the faith of others.

If such examination leads a man to believe that he does possess a sincere faith, that he should be diligent, watchful, sober-minded, self-controlled and self-disciplined, ensuring that he continue to grow in a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith, so that it can be never said of him that he has “made shipwreck of [his] faith (1 Tim 1:19).”

CONCLUSION

An elder’s pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith, are not static. That is, either a man will grow in his faith, or his faith will recede (cf., 2 Pet 1:5-8). For this reason, the faithful elder must be ever-watchful.

Paul, concerned that false teachers might arise from among the Ephesian elders, warned them, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock (Acts 20:28).” Peter warned his fellow elders, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world (1 Pet 5:8-9).” John warned the church, “Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward (2 John 8).”

If we would be determined to avoid personal and ministry shipwreck, then we must take these warnings seriously and remain vigilant. Like Paul, we must exercise self-control and personal discipline. He said, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (1 Cor 9:27).”

The potential for shipwreck and disqualification should be sobering thoughts for the faithful elder. Sobering enough that they drive him to “keep a close watch on [himself] and on the teaching (1 Tim 4:16).” Sobering enough that he protects the purity of his heart; aims to always maintain a good conscience, and ensures that his is a sincere faith. With that confidence then, he should minister to others seeking to see them develop a love which flows from the very same triad of virtues.