I Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
Back in December, Luigi Mangione was arrested for murdering an insurance executive in Manhattan, New York. When they look at whether he is guilty or not, they will look at motive, means, and opportunity. Motive would be why he did it. He was found with a manifesto which probably speaks to motive. Means is the ability to do it. He was found with a weapon which appears to be the weapon used in the shooting. Opportunity would be if he was in the right place at the right time. So, they are looking for DNA at the location of the crime. The question is if the evidence of motive, means, and opportunity is enough to convince the jury.
Recently, I was talking to my neighbors here at the Bill Rice Ranch about contracts coming up in the new year. We all sign a contract each year. It is a decision we make. Is this where God wants me or does God want me to move? We will talk about three dynamics to consider when it comes to your future, whether signing a contract, moving to a new location, or starting a new endeavor. What are the dynamics that God would have us to consider for our future? Let me suggest that motive, means, and opportunity are not a bad way to look at what we should be doing. Today we will talk about motive, what do you want to do.
First Timothy 3:1 says, “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” If a man wants to be an overseer, a bishop or pastor, he desires a good work. You may not be a pastor, however, I think there are some overarching principles addressed to possible pastors that apply to all of us. So, when I come to what I should do in the future, one question to ask is about motive. What do I want to do?
It is amazing to me that God says in I Timothy 3 that if a man desire the office of a bishop it is a good thing. In other words, what do you want to do? You think, “Wil, that is what I want. What does God want?” Well, if God did want you to be a preacher, how would He let you know? Desire may not be everything, but it is something.
I remember a meeting when I was young where a man trusted Christ after I had preached the gospel. After the meeting I got into my car with my new wife, looked over at her, and said, “This is what I want to do.” I didn’t have some dramatic experience where God spoke to me in a dream, but I had a desire that was beginning to be validated by a prayer I have often prayed. I have prayed for God to confirm His calling in my life by the gifts He gives me, the opportunities He gives me, and the confirmation of people I respect.
Psalm 37 says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he will give thee the desires of thine heart.” Now, God may need to change my desires. If He does, that is fine. But when it comes to motive, it is fair to ask, “What do I want to do?” Having said that, this assumes two things in my life, willingness to do anything and obedience in the basic areas of my life. If I am not obedient in the areas I know to be right, right now, why should I be talking about something way up in the clouds like God’s will for my life? Psalm 37 says we are to delight in the Lord, commit our way to Him, trust in Him, and rest and wait patiently for Him. If I am willing to do anything and am obedient in what I know to do right now, then it may be safe to follow the desires that I have.
In the next devotional we will talk about what should inform those desires. I will say that when the Bible talks about a man desiring the office of a bishop, it is not talking about money. I Timothy 3:3 says, “…not greedy of filthy lucre…not covetous.” Money is the not the main motive. It is not irrelevant because you don’t want to starve to death, but there are some things worse than starving to death. One of those things is not doing what God has made you to do.
First Timothy 6 is addressing people who thought money, meat, and marriage were all wrong. He says, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” Money is a horrible master, but I should be thankful to God who gives us all things richly to enjoy. He gives people these things in order “that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate [give]; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” Eternal life is talking about life that is real. So, when we are talking about what we want to do, we are not primarily talking about money.
We are also not talking primarily about status. When the Bible addresses this man who wants to be a bishop, it says, “…not a novice.” He can’t be a newbie. How can you begin a pastorate if you are not there for the first day? The following verses answer with “one that ruleth well his own house.” We learn how to lead and serve in responsibilities we have so God can expand those, but we are not talking about money or status. If you want to be something, go run for office; don’t be in ministry. It is fine to have some ambition, but if your main motive is a desire to be rich or prominent, that is not very noble and your life will never rise above the things that motivate you.
This desire should not be primarily about ease. “If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” It may be good, but it is work. My uncle-in-law is a pastor who grew up on a farm. When he was a kid there was something stirring in his heart because he once said to his family’s amusement, “When I grow up, I don’t want to be a worker. I want to be a preacher.” If you are truly a preacher, you will be a worker, but the bottom line is how do you know what to do, whether to resign a contract, move, or start something? Well, consider motive, means, and opportunity. Motive means what do I want to do? It is not about money, status or ease.
There are two heresies that people think. One says, “God just wants me to be happy.” As if that is God’s driving concern for the universe, to make me happy. No, when the Bible talks about the one who desires the office of a bishop, He is not talking about merely gratifying what he wants. He is talking about someone who is willing and obedient and who is responding to something God has placed in him. There is more to life than “God wants me to be happy.”
The other thing people think is, “God wants me to be miserable.” If there is something you are lousy at, that is what God is going to make you do. No, I don’t think so. Some people get this idea that God’s will has to be harsh, murky, and miserable. Years ago, Dale Carnegie said that a problem clearly stated is half solved. So many times, we are making decisions when the problem or decision is not clearly given in our minds. God doesn’t want me to be happy or miserable. God wants what He wants and that is what matters. So, consider motive. What do I want?