Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their
children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
The man Nicolaus mentioned as one of the 7 men chosen, wasn’t even an ethnic Jew! He was a convert to the faith from a Gentile background!!! To give leadership to someone
who wasn’t even Jewish meant that the circumstances of one’s birth or his ethnicity was not what was important, but rather what kind of a man he was, his godliness, his love for the Lord and his pursuit of the Savior and his willingness to get low…to serve.
This was a big deal in that day. Jews and Gentiles coming together as one body will be the Apostle Paul’s emphasis in almost every letter he writes.
And again, we read of no arguments or infighting. If someone had a problem with a non-Jew serving them, or if someone thought the deck was stacked with Greek speaking
widows, they didn’t voice it. My guess is they didn’t voice it because they knew the character of the men they chose and although far from perfect, they were men who could be trusted.
No personal pet projects. No posturing for position, no seeds of doubt. No endless arguments about how the proposal might be tweaked in this way or that; no amendments;
no substitute motions, no letters to Presbytery, no, “what about my special project”, just enthusiasm to let those gifted…serve..
If only Christian churches approached all their problems with that same determination to find the best solution in the wisest way; if only all the believers cared about
that and nothing else! When everyone’s eye is on the glory of God, the honor of Christ, the salvation of the lost, the faithfulness and holiness of the church, the discipleship of her children in the faith and the welfare of the poor, self never enters
the equation! (RSR)
And notice the requirement: “Give us godly men.” We must remember: This is Bible’s way. The test of a man is not his IQ, he is not judged even by his theological knowledge
in some academic way, the test of man…is his character. Reminiscent of last week, when it comes to the church choosing her officers, the Bible says look at his life, look at how he loves and leads his wife…what about his children, are they respectful and obedient,
is his wife loved and honored?
Is he honest, trustworthy, is he a man who when he speaks, his words mean something, he isn’t one kind of man at church and a different kind of man outside of the church?
You might be thinking, that is just being a Christian! Well, you are right, and those who lead the church are to be exemplary Christians. What kind of men do you want
serving and leading the church? Or we could say what kind of men do we want helping us to see Christ? That is what godly men do!
Godliness comes by a combination of both understanding the
gospel, and living the gospel…a life that has walked
with the Lord…having to trust Him when the winds blow, when life is hard…a life of knowing himself well and cultivating his own heart to the things of God.
In other words, these men should be inspiring. We should look at them, at their families, at their marriage, at how they embrace sacrifice and giving away their lives,
and we should be inspired in our own lives.
In days of trial the work of leadership gets more demanding, more thankless, more difficult in every way. One of these men, Stephen, for his servanthood, will be stoned
to death. Under pressure some Christian people can wilt, cave in, compromise, soft sell, change what God says to avoid the criticism and to escape trouble or pain.
Divisions form within the church as a result, and loyalties form around different people in the church, people who think like me, people who, well, people who like me…instead
of loyalty around the Savior and His work in our midst.
A man once said he was going to stand for elder because he was hoping that in talking the office he would get the respect he felt he was due. He actually thought this
would move him up the latter in the eyes of his fellow Xns, adulation that he apparently thought he deserved.
When he was told that to serve in the offices of the church was just the opposite, it wasn’t to be lifted up, but to descend to the feet of the people with water and
basin in hand…that his calling was to be emptied and to be nothing…to sweep floors if needed, to clean up after the children, to do work that no one else sees…he left, not just his desire for the office, he left the church.
So different is that spirit from when I began my ministry as an associate minister and Pastor Rayburn said to me, “Do you have your own broom or do we need to supply
you with one?” His point: As servants of the church, we do whatever must be done…there is nothing too menial for a servant of Christ.
Prayer: Father, I confess that I too often run ahead of You with my agenda and my demands for how things are supposed to be. Forgive me for how seldom I stop to inquire
of You, my Lord. I pray Lord that this day you would slow me down and cause me to look first to You for direction and guidance; for wisdom and discernment. Help me to see how Your Kingdom comes and how I am being called to take my place in it. Through Jesus
Christ my Lord, Amen
Hymn: I Love thy Kingdom Lord