“Servant Overseer”

Acts 20

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

If, by the Holy Spirit, you fill a position of leadership in the church, then it is of paramount importance that you keep watch over yourselves. Satan is out to deceive any one, especially those eager to follow God. A leader or overseer should be especially careful and diligent with regards to his relationship and walk with God. He must see to it that his walk with God is strongly established and that no error or sin creeps in – only then will he be able to watch over the flock that God has placed under his care.

What are the characteristics of an overseer? One can look at some of these qualifying characteristics found in 1Tim 3 from verse 2. The first is he must be “above reproach”. No-one should be able to find fault with his daily living. He should also not be a busy body, always meddling in the affairs of others. He should be upright and self-controlled. Hospitality is also a part of such a person’s character. If you use the little God has given you, like the widow who shared her oil and bread with Elijah, God will increase what you have. We must not limit His miraculous power because of a lack of faith.

An overseer must be able to teach those who are confused or have been made insane by the devil. He should not be a “drunkard” or be “violent but be gentle”. He should not be a “lover of money” (6:10). His everyday life should be a sermon to those around him. The text in 1Tim 3: 4 & 5 refers to the fact that if an overseer cannot manage his family, then he won’t be able to care for the church either.

It also important to realise that an overseer is a part of the flock and is not boss over it. He is not there to lord it over others. He also a child of God bought by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is no more than any other child of God. Thus, with this attitude, he should serve the church and with all his strength, care for those precious souls entrusted to him. His whole desire should be centred around Christ and he should have a single goal in mind, to fulfil the task given to him by the Holy Spirit in a pure and yet humble way.

May God raise up Pauls who are focused and remain on track, unlike those who he referred to in 6:10 who have “strayed from the faith.”

(The legend of the King, the princess and the golden shoe placed to test the focus of the suitors was then told, as an example of keeping our eyes on the goal and not being side-tracked.)

The text is not limited to Christian leaders, overseers or bishops, but includes every Christian. Each believer should be spreading the message of Christ even if he is not preaching.