Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre.
Not Self-Willed
I don’t think most people realize how much they are pushed by forces of which they are not even aware. For instance, someone is pushed by anger, the influence of alcohol, or the desire to strike back at those who have done him wrong. Some people are motivated by money in ways that make them tense, and they don’t even realize what is causing them to make certain decisions.
Yet, as Titus reminds us, to be a steward is to use God’s resources according to His will. A steward of God is not self-willed; he remembers who owns everything. Titus 1:7 says, “For as bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre.” The Bible is addressing a bishop, an overseer of a church. You may not be a pastor, but every one of us oversees something. The things that we oversee are things that God owns. That makes us stewards, responsible for the possessions that God owns and puts in our trust.
Notice the words “steward” and “selfwilled.” They are contradicting terms. If I am a steward, I am not self-willed because a steward remembers who owns everything, including self. When I’m a steward, I don’t own the thing that God has put into my hands. I don’t even own myself. That frees me to be guided by God and not pushed by my passions.
A steward of God is not self-willed because he is not controlled by forces other than the Master. God’s resources are to be used according to God’s will. Often other things govern us apart from self-will. Verse 7 indicates that God’s stewards are not to be “soon angry.” Have you ever known someone who is constantly ticked off? A person who is always angry is governed by his anger not by God’s will. Such a person cannot possibly do the right thing.
Once again, a steward of God is not to be “given to wine.” I cannot think clearly if I’m governed by something other than God. Verse 12 talks about those who are slow bellies, people whose god is their own belly. You may not be a drunk, but you don’t want to be a slow, lazy glutton either. I don’t want to be controlled by anything that usurps God’s power of authority in my life.
How about “no striker”? A person who always strikes back at others is governed not merely by the anger in his own heart but by the offenses of everyone else.
Lastly, the verse speaks of not being “given to filthy lucre.” The noblest things in this life cannot be accomplished by following the money. It is not that money is wrong, but it is to be a servant, not a master. If I am a steward, money is to be in service to the God Who governs me.
A steward of God is not self-willed, but guided by God.