Deacons - Tuesday With Timothy #32

1 Timothy 3:8 - 13  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 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.

Moving on from the office of the bishop, or the pastor, we move to the next office of the church, that of deacon. When a church is healthy, a good pastor will provide the spiritual leadership and spiritual food for the church by preaching God's Word. The church is not a one man band and if the pastor is left to do everything, he won't get around to do much of anything. A deacon is a man who is ordained and set apart for a particular work in the church.

The office of deacon was not an original position when the church was organized. Early in the book of Acts, there were problems in the church where some groups felt that some widows in the church were being neglected. They were complaining to the Apostles about these needs. The men of God said that it wasn't right for them to leave the task that Jesus had given them to take care of issues that should have been taken care of by the church members.

It wasn't that it was not an important issue, it was that the Apostles, who were charged with feeding the flock didn't have time to be taking care of every issue in the church. They instructed the church to select seven men who would be able to serve the church so that the men of God could do the work that they were called to. When they took the load of serving tables from the men who were to serve the Word, God blessed the church and the Word of God increased.

The word deacon is a transliterated word which, according to Thayer means:

1.  to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon
2. to minister to one, render ministering offices to
3.  to wait at a table and offer food and drink to the guests
4.  to minister, i.e. supply food and necessities of life

The primary purpose of the church is not just to exist. Self-preservation is not the commission of the church. The church is to glorify God and proclaim the Word of God. There are other areas, other jobs, and other fields of service, but this is the primary purpose. To go, to make disciples, baptize them, and then teach them. The deacons fill the role of coming in and making sure the pastor the church called is able to do the job they need him to do. The church isn't Washington D.C. where the pastor and deacon has separate but equal powers. The elders of a church should have the same goal in mind and working together to reach that goal. When that happens, God will bless the deacons, God will bless the pastor, and God will bless the church.

That is why it is important that the church select good deacons. There are qualifications to the office, just like a pastor. Verse eight starts off by saying "likewise" and lists some things that both the pastor and the deacon should have in common that we have dealt with in earlier posts.