"A trustworthy saying"

I had a really rich devotional time last night in reading 1 Timothy. The portion which stuck with me the most is chapter 3 verses 1-7: 

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

The passage outlines the qualifications for eldership. Paul introduces them by encouraging those who desire to become elders, calling eldership a "noble task", or a "good work" in the New King James version. Paul then goes on to outline what is required for a man to be worthy of such a noble task. The list of stipulations he offers form a wonderful list of aspirations for me, and for any man who desires to honour God: 


1) Above reproach - may my life be lived in such a way that no accusation of wrongdoing is possible
2) The husband of one wife - may God make me faithful to "not awaken love until it so desires", and to be ever faithful to the wife God provides in His own time
3) Sober-minded - may God grant me a clear mind and sound judgment, to make decisions that are wise
4) Self-controlled - may I be disciplined, able to say "no" and to control my body and life in a manner worthy of the Lord
5) Respectable - may I act in a way deserving of respect and honour
6) Hospitable - may I be generous and friendly, opening my home and exercising Christian charity
7) Able to teach - may I be faithful to teach the whole counsel of God to those entrusted to my ministry
8) Not a drunkard - may God give freedom from all manner of addictions which destroy sound judgment and dull my taste for true happiness
9) Not violent but gentle - may I never vent anger in unholy physical displays
10) Not quarrelsome - may I not pick fights for their own sake, but fight only "the good fight" of faith
11) Not a lover of money - may I never give in to "the root of all kinds of evils". 


May every man who believes in Christ aspire to be worthy to govern Christ's church if called upon.