A Qualified Leader

Reference: I Timothy 3:3 He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. 

Observation: It is interesting that when we think about the qualifications for leaders in the church of God our minds go to the rules against drinking too much or having a poor marriage and we miss these more inner but just as important qualifications. We make allowances, too often, for Christian leaders, and for ourselves, when they/we are harsh instead of gentle, willing to argue and having our values consumed with materialism. We need to see that God judges these qualifications with the same import as the others. 

Application/Confession: I have to remind myself to be gentle on all occasions. I have no great struggle with a love for money--until I start to not have any and then I can begin to get nervous and "graspy". I need to let God further work these qualities into me. 

PRAYER: Lord, fully develop your gentleness in me. Teach me that You are my provider and that I can fully trust your provision for me. I do not have to hold onto money with a death grip in order for my family to be provided for.