Issue 11 - Day 7

1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 3:8-12
8)  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9)  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10)  And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11)  Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12)  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

This passage is another of Paul’s classic building block structures. Do this, then do that, then you can go on to this next. At the top of the passage is the goal of leading a church. At the bottom is leading your family. From experience I can tell you that leading a church is exactly like leading a family, just with more people, and physically older “children”.

As believers we should be all about building families. That is not to exclude singles, but to put the God centred spin on things. If no other family, then it is the spiritual family you should be building. God is our father, and we are his children. However, this passage makes it clear that in every area of the church families are important. If you are a parent, pray for your children. If you are married, pray for your spouse. If you are a child (and we all are someones child), pray for your parents. Pray for one another, and that whole families would come to know the Lord.

We are all to be serious, sober and faithful. In control of ourselves, and exercising the authority God has given to us. Though a bishop should be apt to teach, all other qualities in this passage are about being responsible, so do it.