More On The Spirit, Less On The Flesh

DEVOTION
TITUS
MORE ON THE SPIRIT, LESS ON THE FLESH
Titus 1:6-9
7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless — not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
NIV
I have not seen much difference in the elder and overseer before but it does seem there is a difference. That elder was a larger position in the early church and here this superintendent it would seem has even more qualifications than the elder. I do think it is interesting neither of the Greek words imply in any way a pastor or shepherd of the flock. I know scripture talks about that calling, but here it does not seem to be the case. So how do I apply any of this to me? I suppose any man of God ought to hold himself up to all the qualifications laid out for any place of leadership as each and every man is the head, the priest of his household if of no other group. I think it is very difficult to live in a manner that I could not be accused of anything not Christ-like, for blameless means just that, to not be accusable. Maybe I have been overbearing, but I think the Greek says it better as self-willed or arrogant, which in that case I am not sure I am totally like that, but may have moments from time to time, but then I have not yet attained perfection either. I know I should not excuse myself either. I think as a general rule I am pretty even tempered although at times with certain people who seem to attempt to get my goat on purpose I might get a little quick-tempered and I know I need to make a greater effort in that area. Once I was drunk, but that was once, and that was way before knowing Christ, and I don’t think it is a good thing for any man of God to have so much he becomes drunk, which I think does lead to violence in a sense. I don’t know why some interpret greed as not pursuing dishonest gain, for even pursuing honest gain can be greed, if it a primary pursuit. The rest of this list stating the good, godly qualities that a man of God should have surely need to be plastered on the morning mirror and engraved in my heart and mind. Maybe I should deal with them in the morning of tomorrow examining myself in more detail as to how I stack up, but than that might take a whole book rather than devotion. But in both the bad and the good, I need to depend more on the Spirit and less on the flesh.