What key qualities do you look for in a church leader? In a world enamored with worldly metrics of success—popularity, influence, acclaim, and charisma—it’s easy for Christians to be swept along with the conventional secular thinking of our day.

But we need to be always mindful of the qualities that God esteems in those to whom He has given stewardship of His church. The apostle Paul said, “it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 4:2).

Trustworthiness, or faithfulness, isn’t highly prized in this world of short attention spans. But over the long haul of serving in Christ’s church, it is a rare and precious commodity. We recently asked John MacArthur—now in his fifty-first year of faithfully shepherding Grace Community Church—to explain the key aspects of faithfulness in Christian ministry. Here’s what he had to say:

It’s important to remember that the qualities of genuine faithfulness which John mentions were never meant to be confined solely to those who lead in Christ’s church. All believers are called to faithfulness in gospel proclamation (Matthew 28:19), godly conduct (1 Peter 2:12), and loving our neighbors (Matthew 22:39).

May our great longing be to reach the end of this earthly life and hear these words from the great Judge Himself: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).