I would like to share with you a comparison which I recently heard. While discussing some of the qualifications of an elder (Tit. 1:6-9), most of which are simply characteristics of a faithful Christian, a good brother observed that these characteristics act as Spiritual Shock Absorbers.

Without shock absorbers, especially on our Tennessee back roads, an automobile would give an extremely rough ride. With shock absorbers many of the bumps are taken out before the passengers feel them. So it is with those faithful Christians who possess the qualifications of an elder, especially those qualifications found in Titus 1: 7b-8. When the going gets rough, the bumps (life's little aggravations) are absorbed before they affect us spiritually.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XV: 45, p. 13
September 23, 1971