THERE HAS TO BE A TRAINING GROUND

Reference text: 1 Timothy 3:1-13

Today’s letter to Timothy presents the criteria Bishops had to meet to qualify for office, and this was a tall list encompassing maturity in both character and stature. However, the statement that is the core of our discourse is found in 1 Timothy 3:5 ‘

For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God?'

Thus for the Bishop, the home was meant to be their training ground and starting point. They were not deemed ready to handle the church at large if they were unable to manage their home. In other words, before true promotions will come, men have to be tested in, and with small things. A little money, a little power, or a small platform, a little influence.. Just a taster.

Those are meant to be preparatory grounds and present opportunities that should not be wasted. When David showed up before Saul proposing to go to battle with Goliath(1 Samuel 17), the king’s concern was ‘you are only a young boy, but he had been a soldier all his life’. David’s response was ‘I have had the field to prepare with and have used the lion and bear in target practice. This battle is not my preparation because I came prepared’.

Beloved, for all exploits, there has to be a training ground. God loves you, but He loves everybody else too. He will not entrust into your hands things you have not intentionally prepared to handle because those things could destroy not only you, but everyone connected to it. Even the programme of God could suffer if an unprepared vessel is given more than they can wield. Withholding then is not wickedness, it is God’s wisdom sponsored by His mercy.

#sly