Some women, some singles, some young adults, some child-less men may skip over the qualifications for elders (listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9), supposing that such qualifications have no application to their lives. Such could not be farther from the truth. With the exception of being an older, faithfully married man with submissive children, which qualities necessary to be an elder should you not strive to have characterize your own Christian life?
“Blameless, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, a lover of what is good, hospitable, able to teach, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous, having a good testimony among those who are outside, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word.”
New Testament passages could be cited for each of these qualities to exist in every Christian. You may not fully qualify to be elder, but do you qualify to be a faithful Christian?