1 Timothy 3:6-7

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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 3:6-7

The Lord Jesus will always call leaders to perfection all the while knowing leaders will never reach such a plateau this side of heaven. God has ordained a standard for spiritual leaders, and as much as is possible, by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, those who lead are to attempt the meeting of that standard. 

Our inability to be perfect is a means by which we grow in our dependence upon the Lord. This is a product of the Fall, yet it is a good reality because there are times that we must be reminded that we are in desperate need of the Lord at all times. Having said that, the leader must not get out of sorts when he fails at being a leader. Those who are wise will embrace the humility and the Lord will, through the failure, make of him a more authentic leader.

 In v.6 of today's text we read, "He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil."

The issue here is not that this man might not be a good teacher of the Bible or a strong leader, the issue is if a new convert is put in a position with other mature, godly men, he’s going to have a battle with pride. This is why a person should only be acknowledged as a leader after he has been doing the work of a leader for some time.

Now, the Apostle references the judgment of the devil. This judgment was a demotion from a high position, and that’s exactly what God says will happen to the man lifted up too soon. When others look up to us, it is easy to get a big head. Pride creates a false standard of our own spirituality. Once this happens, we then become too pious and too proud. Pride will always show up in judgmentalism of some form. And, you'll remember, it was pride that inaugurated sin, it gave sin its birth in the first place.

The test of leadership is the test of humility which is the antidote of pride. And here we must use great caution so that we do not lift ourselves up to a place where we are no longer defined by the Lord.

In v.7 we read, "He (the leader) must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap."

The word “reputation” means testimony. In fact, it is the Greek word marturia which means “martyr.” In the community, this man is to be known as a good man one who dies to himself daily. This is the key, "die to the evil desires that are yet in us even though we are born again." No one can influence others unless he is respected by those whom he wants to influence. 

 

Notice the purpose found in the middle of v.7, "so that he will not fall into disgrace." This phrase paints the picture of the unforeseen fall that awaits the one who is not walking with the Lord Jesus. It is interesting the Lord uses the word "disgrace" here, suggesting that all of our successes are by His grace and all of our failures are in direct correlation to moving out from under His grace.

 

"The devil's trap" is like an animal trap. As the animal is lured to a certain spot, it is suddenly caught by an unseen danger. This is the potential plight of the leader who desires a reputation that draws others to his Lord. 

 

No temptation appears as a temptation. Each temptation always seems attractive and tame. Temptation is not sin, it baits us and entices us into sin but temptation in and of itself is not a sin. To be tempted literally means “to bait a hook.” No fish deliberately gets caught, but when the hook is baited with the right worm, well, temptation starts trying it's lure on us. 

 

Temptation always carries with it some bait that appeals to our natural desires. The bait not only attracts us, it also hides the fact that yielding to the desire will eventually disgrace us.

Sadly, it is that disgrace that keeps the unsaved from His grace. Disgrace is brought upon the Lord and His message and the unsaved are kept from the only one who can save them. God delights in making outsiders insiders and so should we. We do this by remaining very close to the Lord daily through confession of forgiven sin, through living in His word, and through covenanting with our eyes not to look lustfully upon another woman.