This vital category of Leadership Requirements covers much ground for a true man or woman of God to be QUALIFIED in. If a leader fails in these areas, he has immediately disqualified himself as a leader. Most likely he is bringing a reproach upon the Lord. Both moral behavior & SPEECH itself are also included here. It also includes the powerful nature of Jesus' humility & "love" which manifests [& can be discerned] in a person's character, attitude, speech & behavioral gestures towards all others.
In 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 & Galatians Chapter 5 are found the clear-cut traits of Christ's "love" & His "character". [Gal.5:22]. Every thirsty believer can line himself up with these specific "checklists" & become continually more mature in Christ-likeness.
But, for every Leader [in fact, every believer], showing Christ's "love" in one's own character is the loudest-speaking evidence of all Leadership requirements. Although scriptures are plentiful with principles & guidelines for every 'believer' to abide by & grow in, a "Leader" himself has a whole 2nd set of Leadership guidelines he must also QUALIFY in.
Regarding the 'love' of Christ, many persons [both believers & unbelievers] make the mistake of equating the 'absense of hate' within one's own heart, as being the same with having the "love" of Christ. This is never true. Christ's love is immeasurably greater [eternally] than just "having no bitterness or hate" against anyone. God did not offer His Son at the cross based on "the absence of hate". But His gesture originated from His deep, eternal love for all people.
A true bond-servant of God will actually have the deep 'desire' to show kindness, patience, respect, care & peace towards all people. This is the real & true "love" of Christ within a believer. It is not just "surface" gestures of the same kind which even unbelievers can present.
Without exceptions, the "love of Christ" must & will shine forth towards others from a true & 100% qualified man or woman of God. If not, then that minister is in NO WAY qualified to lead God's people. He must step down. Sadly, 90% [minimum] of today's Christian ministers come nowhere close to demonstrating the "love of Christ" in their character, attitude & nature.
Ministers in America [ie. church Pastors / TV ministers] have so failed in this specific area that they have actually done more to cloud Americans from seeing true Christ-likeness than to reflect it.
However, whenever Jesus walked into a place, He was always observed as the perfect gentleman. His kindness & care for all others was overwhelmingly obvious as was His disarming humility. Once in His presence, even as a child & young man, His clear respect, patience & kindness towards all people was quickly observable by all. In His presence, the "peace" was inexpressably strengthening. Every person who met eyes with Him could sense His true care for their best interests & welfare. Later at the cross & resurrection is when full understanding opened to the eternal "care & love" He had for all people.
But, scriptures say clearly that a leader who does not demonstrate Christ's nature & attitude of "love" is no more than a "noisy gong" & "clanging cymbal" in the House of God. [1Cor.13:1, 2]. Although all "believers" must "grow" into maturity & Christ's "love" over a period of time, a "Leader" carries even greater responsibility.
Why? Because a Leader standing in the forefront is already holding himself up not only as a "mature believer" but also as a 100% qualified Leader. So, if ever a "Leader" is discerned as not showing the true "love" of Christ, then he immediately exposes himself as not only UNQUALIFIED to lead God's people, but also in need to go back & "mature" as a "believer".
It bears repeating that the "love of Christ" is what speaks the loudest of all Leadership Requirements. When coming into the presence of a true & solid man or woman of God, then their character, speech, attitude & behavior is a very powerful reflection of Christ Himself & His love. By this kind of "love", the Lord said, "all men will know that you are My disciples." [John 13:35].