To catch up on our adventure through 1 Timothy, click here and read from the bottom post up.
"Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain."
Deacon means one who serves, or a humble servant. The position of deacon was probably begun by the apostles in the Jerusalem church. In Acts 6:1-6 we see that the apostles appointed these men to care for the physical needs of the congregation.
Deacons were also considered leaders in the church, and their qualifications resemble those of the overseers (in 1 Timothy 3:1-7).
Today the role of deacon takes on different meanings and nuances in different churches and denominations.
I think that in general terms today you might say that an overseer would be equivalent to a senior leader and a deacon might be the equivalent of a junior staffer or more admin-type position. But that's just my opinion and not everyone would agree with me on that analysis!
Maybe a better way to look at 1 Timothy 3, as you apply it to your life, is to consider the overseer to be more of the leader, aggressive side of you, and the deacon to be more of the servant side of you. A good leader balances a take-charge attitude with a servant's attitude...a servant-leader.
As you look at the qualities of the elder, the deacon, and the deacon's wife, consider each one as meant specifically for you, whether you think you match the job description or not. See what the Spirit has to say to you through each one.
Next post we'll start taking a look at the qualities of the deacon, or, rather, the servant-leader.
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