Deacons

1 Timothy 3-Part 2
For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.  1 Timothy 3:13


LET IT GLOW


Today, I'm delivering back packs to our local schools. Our church collected school supplies to help meet the needs of children in our district. It's a good thing to share with those in need, but do we sometimes take the easy way out and only give things or money? How far am I willing to go in being a doer of the word, to get involved in helping others? Not one person volunteered to help me distrubute the supplies. (I don't mind doing it alone. I will receive the blessing and they will miss out.) Are my eyes and ears open to the needs of others? Do I put a limit on how I meet those needs? Jesus is our example. Am I following Him and doing things as His servant? Things to ponder.

The English word deacon is a transliteration of the Greek word diakonos, which simply means "servant."
(Wiersbe)

According to Thayer's Lexicon, deacon means to minister, supply food and necessities of life; to take care of the the poor and the sick.

Deacons were initially chosen to wait on tables and minister to particular situations in the church (Acts 6:1). They are not to "run the church." They are to relieve the pastor from tasks that would hinder him from giving himself to prayer and ministering the Word (Acts 6:4). (Liberty Bible Commentary)

In our key verse, good degree refers to standing or respect in the church, not a promotion, for that would make the motives wrong.

The NIV says: Those who have served will gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

The Message states: Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.

Deacons will have great boldness, confidence, and assurance to speak with authority in Christ, in faith in Him.

Even though I am not a deacon, which should only be men, I can still be a servant of Jesus.


LET IT GROW

Although deacons are not given the authority of pastors, they still must meet certain qualifications. Paul lists them in verses 8-12:

1. Grave (worthy of respect) 
2. Not double-tongued (not say one thing and mean another, speech is honest and not hypocritical, not a gossiper)
3. Not given to much wine (not a drinker of strong drink, abstains for his witnessing sake)
4. Not greedy of filthy lucre (not loving money, not abuse the office to make money, since they take offerings and distribute to the needy, not pursuing dishonest gain)
5. Doctrinally sound with a pure conscience (grounded in faith, base decisions and actions on God's Word, his behavior conforms to his beliefs)
6. Tested and proved (not a new convert, having their life watched and approved, their character is approved)
7. Godly homes (not divorced and remarried, leader of his family, committed to wife and disciplines children, rules his family well)
8. Husband of one wife (she must be a Christian, not a gossiper, serious minded, not a slanderer, faithful and trustworthy in all things)
9. Have a willingness to work (fills the position, not use the office, a servant)

As a Christian, is my character  honoring my Lord as His servant?


LET IT GO

Are there habits I need to let go of in order to better serve Christ?

Open the eyes of my heart Lord to see needs of others.

Serve as Christ served.