Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Titus 1:7
7 For a
bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled,
not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
2 Peter 2:9-10
9 The Lord knoweth how
to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day
of Judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them
that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government.
Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not
afraid to speak evil of dignities.
F.
B. Meyer said: “Man’s fall, whatever else it may have been, resulted in a complete change
in the centre of his being. He was made in the likeness of God, and
God’s nature is absolutely selfless.” Man and woman were naked in the garden
without shame and the reason was that they were not “self-conscious” of their
nakedness. In fact, one of the first questions asked of them was “who told you
that you were naked?” They were not aware that their nakedness was a problem
until the fall.
The
conflict between Cain and Abel was a problem of self-centeredness. Cain, through the fall, had
developed a pertinacious [holding firmly to an opinion or course
of action; stubborn] focus upon himself. A self-willed person is spiritually
and emotionally immature, if not dead. A newborn is totally focused upon
himself. When he is hungry or wet, he cries loudly without regard to the
comfort or convenience of anyone else. Later he develops an awareness of mother
and then of others. As he matures, he learns to be courteous. Too
many have failed to develop courtesy as a sign of maturity. They are
self-willed.
Stubbornly and
arrogantly insisting on one’s own way is specifically forbidden in bishops or
pastors. How can one devote his life to the service of God and others while the
center of his focus is himself? Every character flaw listed in Titus 1:7 is a result of self-will. The
anger, the brawling, the drunkenness, and the love of money are all a result of
a wrong focus. “Self-willed” is translated from the Greek authades which means
“self-pleasing, arrogant and overbearing.” The man of God can’t be guilty of this.
Perhaps
an illustration is needed to open a window to our understanding. A cold wind was howling, and a
chilling rain was beating down when the telephone rang in the home of a doctor.
The caller said that his wife needed urgent medical attention. The doctor was
understanding. "I'll be glad to come, but my car is being repaired,"
he said. "Could you come and get me?" There was indignation at the
other end of the phone as an angry voice sputtered, "What, in this
weather?"
Matt 16:24
24 Then said Jesus
unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, [say
no to his wishes and comforts] and take up his cross, and follow me.
Dear Lord, please
change the focus of my heart. Help me to think first of you and then of others.
AMEN
