1 Timothy 3:8-13

1 Timothy 3:8-13  Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.  They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.  They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.  In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.  A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.  Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Once again as with the overseers, deacons are to be men and women worthy of respect.  They are to be above reproach, for they have the responsibility of taking care of the material needs of the church.  Because deacons are chosen to take care of the material needs of the church, they should be especially trustworthy, for finances and the distribution of goods flow through their hands, giving them ample opportunity to gain from their position within the church.   As with overseers, deacons also have to be people of propriety; they must act well within the morals of the general community.  They are not to be imbibers of much wine, fraudulent in behavior, or lovers of money.  They must be upright and trustworthy in every part of their lives.  Their children should be well behaved, and they must run an orderly household.  Deacons hold a highly esteemed position within the church; therefore, they should be exemplary Christians in every part of their lives.  

The most important aspect of a deacon's life should be the person's faith.  A deep, abiding faith is what holds any Christian community together.  If the deacons are found without this kind of faith, the church will fall apart in its spiritual activity.  Yes, the church still might do good, might provide services even to the needy and poor in the world, but the church will not be an effective lighthouse to the lost who are floundering in sin.  The church will be just another agency, attempting to do good works in a sick world.  We must not become just another vehicle for servicing the down and out; we must be a light for the Lord and bring hope for eternal life to a dark and DYING WORLD.  Our faith compels us to serve others, but if our faith does not draw us to our knees first, we lose the power of the Good News.  

Jesus Christ came to transform lives and to change the hearts of men.  He came to deliver people from their sins and to set them free to follow him and to do his will.  If we omit that part of our mission, we have missed the mission, for the transformation of men's souls is the true mission.  When transformation occurs, the love of God floods the souls of men and motivates them to serve within and outside of the church.  Deacons must experience that flood.  Without that flood of love and the transforming power of the cross, deacons and all of us are just a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  (1 Corinthians 13:1)  Our words are simply noise.  There are many noises in the world, but the clarion call to the world is that Jesus Christ has come and that He is the Savior of the world.  Deacons and deaconesses are serving the church and Christ to make sure that call is heard.  Praise God this is a call that every one of us can hear and every one of us can share with those around us.