KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 3:8 ” Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;”

We would consider the qualifications of a deacon in detail. 1st Timothy 3:8-9 reads “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.”

Acts Chapter 6 introduces the basic qualifications of the deacon. Act 6:3 KJV Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. To be full of the Holy Spirit means one is controllèd by the Holy Spirit. The full dominance of the Holy Spirit is the one who enables the Christian to manifest all the Christian virtue.

The deacon must be grave. This means they should act honourably or be honest in all their dealings. They should be men and women of strong conviction about the importance of leading an upright life.

The next virtue is that they must not be double-tongued. This means they must say the same thing at all times. They should not call a thing ‘.A’ today in the presence of Mr. D and at another time in the presence of Mr. F he says it is B. This is not a trustworthy individual. It is the character trait of a serpent. He must always speak the truth. The tendency to say the truth at all times is what makes one to be trusted.

The third qualification is that they must not be given too much wine. In the qualifications of a bishop or an Elder, the Bible said he must not be given to wine. The qualifications of a bishop or pastor are no different from that of a deacon. It therefore holds that the deacon must likewise not be given to wine. In Leviticus 10:9 the Jewish minister was not to take wine in the service of God. Why should it then be any more proper for a Christian minister to drink wine than for a Jewish priest to stay away? Shall a minister of the gospel be less holy than the Jewish minister? Wine is addictive and I will always advise Christians to stay away from it.

The next was that he should not be greedy of filthy lucre. He should not be greedy about money. The deacons, by their functions, are the ones who normally handle church monies, and therefore, it is just right that they are people who are not greedy about money. Judas, one of the disciples of our Lord Jesus, betrayed his master because of his greed for money.

He must also hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. This means he must be sincere about the teachings of the bible. 2nd Corinthians 4:2 informs us that the Apostle Paul renounced all hidden things of dishonesty and, as a result, did not walk in craftiness.

PRAYER

Father, I pray for all deacons who serve in your house. May they be committed to you and discharge their roles to honour your name in Jesus’ name I have prayed.

FURTHER STUDIES.

2 Corinthians 4:2 ” But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God”.

1 Timothy 3:10. “And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless”.