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Lead Servants
If we belong to God in Christ, we must serve Him obediently in life, so we must understand we're all servants because He served us to rescue us, and He calls us to continue His rescue mission.
In his first letter to Timothy, Paul spoke to many aspects of church life, but he primarily wrote to Timothy in regard to false teachers within the Ephesian church and how the gospel, remembered, lived out, and served by the church, combined with strong leadership, would expose those false teachers and remedy the situation. All who belong to Jesus do so because of His service of sacrifice on our behalf that defeated sin and death. Through repentant faith in His Person and works, we're saved from death to life and freed to love Him, love others, and serve His gospel. During His earthly ministry, Jesus lived the ultimate example of service and commanded His followers to do the same. So Jesus leads us by serving us, all through serving the gospel and building His Kingdom. He calls all of His followers to serve the gospel out of devotion to and love for Him because He gave all to free us to truly love and serve Him. Our faith in Jesus is expressed by serving His gospel for the glory of God and the good of others through works that He prepared for us in eternity past, by serving in the roles He calls us to within His body, with the spiritual gifts He equips us with through the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to save that which was lost. He came on a rescue mission, and He commissions us to continue that mission. Therefore, our gifts, gospel service, and roles within His body exist to advance His mission. Any effective family, team, or organization must serve and work toward common goals, but some in the group are uniquely equipped for leadership. It is the same within the body of Christ. Our goal is to glorify Christ by growing in Him and continuing His salvation mission through obedient and joyful service. He equips His church with leaders to accomplish this goal and calls us to identify and follow them.
If we belong to God in Christ, we must serve Him obediently in life, so we must recognize those who demonstrate His anointing as leaders for our mission.
This brings us to Paul's instructions to Timothy on those within the body of Christ who separate themselves out as leaders. In verses 8-13, he speaks to the qualifications of those who are set apart to serve in the office of Deacon and as female church leaders. The church is to recognize the hand of God on these people over the course of time and carefully select them for service as they're needed. There are eight qualifications that mark a servant of Christ for the office of Deacon, all of which are produced by the Holy Spirit. First, they prove to be men of dignity who are serious-minded, demand respect, and have qualities that others desire to imitate. Second, they are to have integrity of speech, can be trusted with delicate information, are consistent in their message, and choose their words carefully. Third, they aren't to be lovers of wine but practice control instead of being controlled by substances. Fourth, they're not greedy or dishonest. Fifth, they understand the gospel and salvation in Christ. Sixth, they serve with a clear conscience because they not only know biblical doctrines but are growing in obedience to them. Seventh, as mentioned, they must have proven themselves over the course of time, not be perfect, but be devoted to and growing in Christ through service. And lastly, must be a devoted, faithful, and loving husband of only one wife who seeks to lead his family in the Lord. There is ambiguity in the way the text transitions to speak of women. Some feel the text is speaking of Deacons' wives, in which case it indicates that they're to be faithful partners in their service, and some feel this text delineates the qualifications of female leaders. This delineation of qualifications for the important role of female leaders is consistent with the flow of the passage and the needs and history of the church. These ladies are to be identified by four qualities. First, they should be dignified, serious-minded, stately, respected, admired, and a desired role model for others. Second, they aren't to be gossips but are to have integrity of speech. Third, they should be temperate, sober in judgment, and be able to control and moderate their behavior. Fourth, they are called to have a nature of reliability and faithfulness in every sphere of their lives. The ultimate purpose of those in leadership roles is to serve the gospel by serving the needs of others, not their watns, and to lead the rest of the church to serve and not to be served according to the example of Christ! The same is true for all followers of Christ. We are to have a mission mindset so that Jesus's mission is accomplished, and we grow in the process as we grow His Kingdom! Those who serve faithfully in leadership roles are rewarded with high standing in the hearts of the people and growth, encouragement, and faith in Christ by God.Â
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