Two Men Become Deacons     
 

by Greg Chandler

 

Two men become deacons. The first man enjoys the honor of titles and has longed for the day when the congregation finally recognizes the contribution he has made to the group. He realizes that, at long last, he can now begin having more of an influence in decision making for the church. Though he knows the word deacon literally means “servant,” he has little interest in the more mundane expectations of his new found duty. There are others who can repair the building, check in on the sick, take care of the widows, and such like. His goal is to show the congregation that, in all reality, he is on the fast track for the eldership as soon as his children are baptized. The second man is humbled by the trust the congregation has placed in him, though his work will change very little. For years, he has quietly sought out the needs of others, been a faithful participant in every scheduled “work day” at the church building, and taken his place in the teaching program of the church. Though a “pat on the back” might be encouraging to him, his goal has never been nor ever will be to receive the praise of men. While he hopes to one day serve as an elder, he realizes the importance of the work he is currently doing. The words of Paul to Timothy bolster this attitude each time he reads them: “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” (I Timothy 3:13). With great humility he brings up his family, seriously contemplating his fatherly task of bringing up his children in the “training and admonition of the Lord.” His gentle spirit of service is evidenced by not only his physical family, but his spiritual family as well. We certainly hope that no man displays the spirit as seen in our first deacon, yet it is necessary to realize the temptations that can overtake a man if he allows the devil a foothold. For this reason, the Apostle Paul clearly identified the attributes that a man must possess to serve in this godly work. In general, a man who desires to serve as a deacon first has himself under control and has given his life to the Lord. Because of this, he can easily see the needs of others and provide for them accordingly. His family also illustrates the spirit of godliness. His children respect his position as head of the house and his godly wife realizes the sensitive nature of some aspects of his work; she faithfully helps him carry out his duties and never discusses with others what must remain private. A man who seriously contemplates the work of deacon does not fall to the temptation of seeking to rival the elders within a church. He realizes his work is that of servant to his brethren, also encompassing service that he can provide for the eldership. He does not grow resentful when suggestions are made by the eldership to relieve some of their burden so that appropriate time can be spent in their godly work of overseeing the congregation. In every way, he shows himself a “team player” because he realizes the entire congregation, including both elders and deacons, are working for the same goal of pleasing the Lord. A congregation is truly blessed when their deacons show the spirit of our second man. Work will be done quietly and often go unnoticed because of the humble spirit of these servants. May God bless any man who is recognized by his congregation to serve in this work and who willingly takes on this godly task. In so doing, he will not only gain a good standing in the sight of his fellow Christians, but also in the sight of his Lord Jesus Christ.       Other Articles The Slippery Slope of Flattery Said the Farmer to the Fruit Tree Who Cares? So What? People Are Funny No Time Like the Present Real Men   For Past Auburn Beacons go to: www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm   Anyone can join the mailing list for the Auburn Beacon! Send your request to: larryrouse@aubeacon.com