Qualifications of a Fivefold Minister – Part Eight
We are continuing to look at the qualifications for those in Christian leadership and especially the character qualities needing to be apparent in the life of fivefold ministers … These are found in 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus.
A character trait of a fivefold minister is that he loves what is good. God is good, therefore a fivefold minister’s desires are focused on the good things of God. He is a godly person, hates sin, and has a compassion for those whose lives are entangled by sin. With a no nonsense approach to sin, he takes a clear stand on sin issues because he loves that which is good and he hates that which is evil.
Fivefold ministers enjoy seeing the enemy defeated in other people’s lives. When someone else, individually or as a congregation, experiences victory, they experience victory. They see the good in others and in situation that are less than desirable. Since they see some of the negative things within a church, they also have the ability to see the good that can come out of these situations. They have a strong desire to see others succeed. They know that as others in the church succeed, they in turn succeed!
Because they frequently travel, they experience a wide range of situations, and not everything that they witness is good. They see some of the flaws in the Body of Christ because they are “up close.” But they never use this knowledge and insight to shed a bad light on the local church. They do not repeat things that should not be mentioned to others who are not part of the problem or solution. Philippians 4:8 is their guide: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
A fivefold minister is also upright and holy. Being upright and holy is doing what is right in God’s sight regardless of the circumstances. It is doing right when no one is looking or listening. It is having a heart that is pleasing to God. David said, “As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God” ((Psalm 42:1). That is holiness.
Fivefold leaders follow through on commitments, making good their word, even if it costs them financially. David in Psalm 15, “He who swears to his own hurt…” In other words, I cannot violate an agreement simply because it will be a loss to me. Otherwise, the Name of the Lord will be tainted.
If there are changes that need to be made, a fivefold leader appeals to the ones to whom they made the commitment, asking to be released or to readjusted so as not to cause a problem, because they are there to serve. They are good to their word.