1-2. What kindna “fine work” elder can do?

 IF YOU been ministerial servant for some time now, we know you trying to do some thing dem the Bible say that can make you to be elder. You not think you able to do that “fine work”?—1 Tim. 3:1.

² What kindna work the elder dem can do? Elders can take the lead in the preaching work, they can teach, shepherd, and encourage the congregation by their example and the things they can say. That the reason why the Bible call this hardworking elder dem “gifts in men.”—Eph. 4:8.

3. How brothers can qualify to be elder? (1 Timothy 3:​1-7; Titus 1:​5-9)

³ How you can qualify to be elder? To be elder not the same as looking for job. Most of the time in the world, if you get the skills that the boss man looking for, he can give you the job. But to be elder, it different. You not only need to know how to preach and teach good-good. But you also need to get the quality dem for elders that 1 Timothy 3:​1-7 and Titus 1:​5-9 (Read.) talk about. This article will talk about three thing dem that somebody can do to be elder. (1.) Get good name inside and outside the congregation, (2.) set good example as family head and (3.) be willing to work for the congregation.

GET GOOD NAME

4. What it mean to “be irreprehensible”?

⁴ To qualify to be elder, you must “be irreprehensible.” That mean, you must get good name in the congregation because your good behavior will make people to not accuse you of doing something wrong. Beside that, you must get “a fine testimony from outsiders.” That true,  people who not serving Jehovah will criticize your beliefs, but they must know that you honest person and you get good behavior. (Dan. 6:​4, 5) Think on this question here, ‘I get good name inside and outside the congregation?’

5. How you can show that you love goodness?

⁵ If you love goodness, you will look for the good in other people and tell them thank you for their fine-fine qualities. You will also be happy to do good for other people. You will even do things that people not expecting you to do for them. (1 Thess. 2:8; see “lover of goodness” study note on Titus 1:8.) Why this quality really important for elders? Because they can use plenty of their time to care for the brother and sister dem in the congregation and do other assignments. (1 Pet. 5:​1-3) Even though this one that hard work, but they can enjoy the happiness that can come from working for their brother and sister dem.—Acts 20:35.

6. What some ways somebody can be “hospitable”? (Hebrews 13:​2, 16; also see the picture.)

⁶ You can show that you “hospitable” when you do good things for other people, even people who you not close to. (1 Pet. 4:9) One Bible dictionary say: “Man who hospitable can be kind to people who he not know and even invite them to his house.” So ask yourself, ‘People know me to be somebody who can welcome strangers?’ (Read Hebrews 13:​2, 16.) The man who hospitable can share what he get with visitors, like circuit overseers, visiting speakers and those who not get the hand.—Gen. 18:​2-8; Prov. 3:27; Luke 14:​13, 14; Acts 16:15; Rom. 12:13.

7. How elder can show that he not like money business?

⁷ “Not a lover of money.” This one mean that you can’t put all your focus on material things. Whether you rich or poor, you can make serving Jehovah the most important thing in your life. (Matt. 6:33) You can use your time, energy, and material things to worship Jehovah, to  take care of your family, and to work for the congregation. (Matt. 6:24; 1 John 2:​15-17) Ask yourself: ‘How I can look at money? I satisfy with the thing them I get? Or I focusing on making money and getting more material things?’—1 Tim. 6:​6, 17-19.

8. What some ways you can show that you “moderate in habits” and you get “self-control”?

⁸ Somebody who “moderate in habits” and get “self-control,” can be balance in all areas of their life. For example, that person can’t eat or drink over plus. He can be modest in the way he dress, cut his hair and the thing dem he can do to enjoy his self. He can’t allow the world to control him. (Luke 21:34; Jas. 4:4) He not quick to get vex even if other people say things that make him to feel bad. He “not drunkard” and people not know him to be somebody who can drink plenty. Ask yourself, ‘the way I living my life can show that I moderate in habits and I get self-control?’

9. What it mean to be “sound in mind” and “orderly”?

⁹ If you “sound in mind,” you can really be careful to look at things base on Bible advice. You will think good on Bible advice or principles that can help you to understand the whole situation. You will not be quick to make decision. You will make sure to get all the correct information. (Prov. 18:13) Because of that, you can make good decision that will show that you thinking like Jehovah. To be “orderly” mean, to be organize and always on time. People can depend on you and know you to be somebody who can follow direction. All this quality dem can help you to get good name. Let talk about some quality dem the Bible say elders must get to set good example as family head.

SET GOOD EXAMPLE AS FAMILY HEAD

10. How the man can preside “over his own household in a fine manner”?

¹⁰ If you husband and you want be elder, your family need to set good example. So you need to be “presiding over [your] own household in a fine manner.” It mean people must know you to be somebody who love your family and can make good decision for them. This one also mean doing family worship, making sure your family attend all the meetings and helping them to do their best in the field service. Why this one really important? The apostle Paul say: “If any man does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he care for the congregation of God?”—1 Tim. 3:5.

11-12. How the behavior of people in the man family can affect him if he want qualify to be elder? (Also see the picture.)

¹¹ If you father and you get children that under age, make sure that they must be in subjection with all seriousness. You need to teach and train them. But you must do it with love. It also good to allow them to be happy, laugh and play like other children. But because you train them good, they will listen to you, respect people, and behave good. Also, you must try your best to help your children to get good friendship with Jehovah, to live by what the Bible say, and to be trying their best to get baptize.

¹² “Having believing children who are not accused of debauchery or rebelliousness.” If the child who serving Jehovah  living in the house and commit serious sin, how it can affect the pa? If the pa wor not trying his best to train and discipline his child, then maybe they will move him from being elder.—See the October 15, 1996, Watchtower, p. 21, pars. 6-7.

BE WILLING TO WORK FOR THE CONGREGATION

13. How you can show that you “reasonable,” “not self-willed”?

¹³ Brothers who show good-good Christian qualities can really help the congregation. The man who “reasonable” can promote peace. If you want people to know you to be reasonable, then listen to other people and try to understand their thinking. When yor come together for meeting, you can be willing to support the decision that your other friend dem made, so long it not against Bible laws or principles? “Not self-willed” mean, you can’t force people to do things the way you want them to do it. You can be happy to listen to other people ideas. (Gen. 13:​8, 9; Prov. 15:22) You “not quarrelsome” or “quick-tempered.” This one mean you not harsh and you not like arguing with people. But you can be kind to people and show them respect. Peaceable man that somebody who can be the first to make peace even if it hard to do it. (Jas. 3:​17, 18) If you talk to people kind way, it can even help people who against us to calm down.—Judg. 8:​1-3; Prov. 20:3; 25:15; Matt. 5:​23, 24.

14. What it mean by “not . . . newly converted” and “loyal”?

¹⁴ The brother who qualify to be elder not “newly converted man.” Even though you not need to be baptize for long time before you be elder, you need time to be mature Christian. Before you be elder, you must show that you humble and willing to wait on Jehovah for any  assignment, just like Jesus. (Matt. 20:23; Phil. 2:​5-8) You can show that you “loyal” by sticking to Jehovah, living by what he say and following direction from his organization.—1 Tim. 4:15.

15. You think somebody need to be good public speaker before they can be elder? Explain.

¹⁵ The Bible make it clear that overseers must be “qualified to teach.” You think this one mean that you must be good public speaker? No. Even though plenty qualify elders not good public speakers, they know how to teach good in the field service and they can do good shepherding visits. (See “qualified to teach” study note on 1 Timothy 3:2; compare 1 Corinthians 12:​28, 29 and Ephesians 4:11.) This one not mean that you can’t continue improving to be good teacher. How you can be good teacher?

16. How you can continue improving to be good teacher? (Also see the picture.)

¹⁶ “Holding firmly to the faithful word.” To be good teacher, you must always base your teaching and counsel on the Bible. To do it, you must study the Bible and our publication dem good-good. (Prov. 15:28; 16:23; see “holding firmly to the faithful word” study note on Titus 1:9.) When you studying, try to see how you can apply the Scriptures the right way. And when you teaching, try hard to touch the heart of people who listening to you. You can improve to be good teacher if you ask for suggestions from experience elders and apply it. (1 Tim. 5:17) Elders need to be “able . . . to encourage” their brother and sister dem. But sometime, elders need to counsel or even “correct” them. They must always be kind when they doing it. If you kind and loving and base your teaching on God Word, you will be good teacher because you will be following the example of the Great Teacher, Jesus.—Matt. 11:​28-30; 2 Tim. 2:24.

 CONTINUE TRYING HARD TO BE ELDER

17. (a) Wetin can help ministerial servants to continue trying hard to be elder? (b) Wetin the elder dem must remember when they looking at somebody to be elder? (See the box “ Be Reasonable When You Looking at Brothers to be Elders.”)

¹⁷ After looking at some of the thing dem somebody can do to be elder, maybe some ministerial servants will be feeling that they will never qualify. But know that Jehovah and his organization not expect you to be perfect in showing this quality dem. (1 Pet. 2:21) And remember that Jehovah powerful holy spirit can help you to get this quality dem. (Phil. 2:13) You get any quality that you really want improve on? Pray to Jehovah about it. Do research on it, and ask one elder for help on how you can improve.

18. Wetin all ministerial servants must be trying hard to do?

¹⁸ Whether you elder or not, let all of us continue to show the quality dem we talk about in this article. (Phil. 3:16) If you ministerial servant, try hard to be elder. Ask Jehovah to train you and help you to be more useful in serving him and the congregation. (Isa. 64:8) Let Jehovah continue to bless all your hard work that you continue doing to qualify to be elder.