As Paul the
apostle continued to instruct young Timothy his “son in the
faith” concerning the church in Ephesus, he wrote about the way
women and bishops should be. In chapter three and verse eight of his
letter to Timothy, Paul moves from the topic of bishops to the
requirements of “deacons” where we read:
not given
to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
The verse begins,
“likewise must
the deacons be
grave, not double-tongued,...” As
a continuation of his discussion of people in the church, Paul wrote,
“likewise”
which means “in like manner or in the same way” “must
the deacons”
or “ones who execute the commands of
another, especially of a master, a servant, attendant, minister or
king, who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church,
care for the poor and have charge of and distribute the money
collected for their use” “be grave”
which means “august, venerable for character, reverend and
honorable”. It was important that the men chosen to be a “deacons”
be men who were reverent and could be venerated for good character.
Paul added, “not double-tongued”
which literally means “saying the same thing twice and repeating”
and refers to when people are “double in speech and say one thing
with one person and another with another”. They do this “with the
intent to deceive”.
The
verse continues, “...not given to much wine, not greedy
of filthy lucre;” As though
being “grave” and
“not double-tongued”
wasn't enough, Paul continued, “not given”
or “brought near, attending to or addicted to” “to
much wine” “or plenteous,
abundant and much uses of wine”. The “deacons”
were to be “not greedy of filthy lucre”
or “eager for base gain and greedy for money”. In other
words, “deacons” were not to be men who were addicted to
wine nor were they to be greedy for money and the gain of the world.
While we take
the time to think about these requirements for deacons, let us put
ourselves in their place. Could it be said of us that we are people
of “good character” who serve others in an august, reverent and
honorable way? Do we speak well of others in one environment and
another way in different place because we intend to deceive? Are we
“given to much wine” with the idea of drinking becoming a
focal point in our lives? Are we “greedy” for money and
the gain of this world? As we ponder these questions, we might keep
in mind that it is very easy for us to require these ways of others
and not for ourselves, and should we be desiring the office of a
“deacon” let us take to heart and obey the requirements of
Paul.
Next
time Paul shares another requirement for “deacons”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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