Management Material

“For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach” (v7).

Org charts are important. You need to know where you fit into the big picture. In your company. In your organization. It’s not different in Jesus’ church. In the first part of verse seven, Paul instructs his man Titus as to the role of the elder. The Big T gets a memo from the home office telling him what it looks like in God’s view to be management material. The Lord places these spiritual leaders in critical management roles. But they aren’t there to get the corner office or the company car. He selects these managers to on the lookout for the welfare of His people. They are all accountable to ultimate Overseer. That’s what it means to be God’s manager.

If you’re not familiar with the situation Titus is facing, let’s set the scene. It’s the first century and he’s on the island of Crete just off the coast of Greece. The Good News of Jesus has just washed across the island like a supernatural tsunami. Followers of Christ are in every city. But when it comes to spiritual leaders, there’s a big fat zero. The Apostle Paul tells his buddy Titus to look for mature believers to fill the leadership void (Titus 1:5). He’s not just looking for a body slightly above room temperature. He’s not desperate. The Big T is scouting for men of integrity. Men who are “above reproach” (Titus 1:6-7). 

A big part of being an elder in the local church is remembering your place in the org chart. First of all, an elder is an “overseer” (v7). This simply means that he is to keep an eagle eye out for the spiritual welfare of the folks in the congregation. Secondly, he’s “God’s steward” (v7). An elder isn’t the boss. He’s not the one in charge. No, the overseer is a manager for Jesus. Paul uses the Greek word oikonomos. It’s a compound word that literally means the “law of the house.” 

In its most basic sense, this is a manager of a household. One trusted with the management of another’s affairs. Someone placed in charge by one in higher authority. It’s a person in authority but under authority. In this case, that authority is the Highest Authority. Jesus. So instead of an elder/overseer being the big boss man, he’s actually middle management at best. But in the world of the local church, he’s a servant-leader. He serves his Savior by serving Jesus’ people. It’s about humility. It’s about putting others first. It’s about putting your needs on the back burner. That’s what it means to management material in the eyes of God.

There are several times we see stewards or managers (Gr. oikonomos) in the New Testament. Paul lists the city manager of Rome as a member of the church in that city, “Erastus the city treasurer (Gr. oikonomos)” (Rom 16:23). The apostle tells the folks in Corinth Jesus has placed him and the other spiritual leaders in the position of “stewards (Gr. oikonomos) of the mysteries of God” (1Cor 4:1). Twice, Jesus gives examples of good managers (Gr. oikonomos) as what it looks like to be one of His followers (Lk 12:42; 16:1). So in one very real sense, EVERY believer is a steward of the resources and gifts given by God. How are you using what the Lord has given you? You do realize that they aren’t just for you, right? You do understand that He’s blessed you to be a blessing to others, right? Pete writes that each of us as followers of Jesus is use our spiritual gifts wisely, “use it to serve one another, as good stewards (Gr. oikonomos) of God’s varied grace” (1Pet 4:10). Are you a wise manager of what He’s given you?

While Paul is certainly talking specifically about the office of elder in the local church, every person saved by Jesus is a spiritual leader on some level. You exercise influence on the people you interact with. Are you a faithful steward of what God has given you? Are you a good manager of the resources the Lord has blessed you with? Are you leveraging your relationships, your job, your place in society to the glory of Christ’s kingdom. Are you loving and serving Jesus by loving and serving people? Our Savior said Himself that we keep God’s commands when we do that.

Are you management material?