The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Timothy 3:1-10, “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),
6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,
9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.”

It’s clearly evident that Paul is speaking about pastors and deacons in our verses above. An “overseer” is a pastor; a “deacon” is a servant. Deacons came into being in Acts 6. Thus, both pastors and deacons are valid offices within the church.

Pastors must possess 12 attributes. See if you can identify them in (v. 2). He must also be able to manage (control) his own household, including his children (v. 3). If today’s Christian newspapers are to be believed, quite a number of “pastors” either have never been called of God or have drifted into the ways of the enemy Satan. Pastors need to be possessed of a good reputation. We need to pray for our pastors. They carry heavy responsibilities that often are known only to them and their families.

Deacons are virtually the second officers of the Church. They may be preachers, serving in a different sphere of church service, or they may be laymen serving under the auspices of the pastor, much as the Levites served under the priests in the Old Testament. Deacons must have good reputations, too, and be honest and dignified in the course of their lives.

Paul argues for a testing of men before they enter into the office of deacon. They need to know the Word of God and be witnesses both silently and verbally to the love and grace of God. Pray for the deacons of your church. Honor them as you honor your pastor. For when we obey the Word of the LORD, we honor Him! And that is ever and always our calling.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom