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

​

The word deacon is the Greek word diaconos , and has the following meanings: one who executes the command of another. They are those who care for the poor by distributing the money collected for them. The place for deacons evolved during the commencement of the church, and the Hellenistic brethren complained about discrimination against them, while the Jewish brethren were the favoured ones . Apostle Peter advised that they choose about  seven men of honest report and full of the Holy Spirit, who would serve the food while the apostles committed themselves  to prayer and the ministry of the word. The role of these deacons makes them examples to others and therefore must have certain acceptable ways to present themselves. The following are some of the requirements that a deacon must have so he can play that role and not be a reproach to the name of the Lord.

​

The first qualification is that he or she must be grave or honourable.He must be a person of honour. A man who have high standard in all he does.He should be a man of great conviction.An example of such a man is Uriah the husband of Beshebahwhom king David committed adultery with.King David had wanted him to go to his house and sleep with his wife in order to cover up his sin of adultery.Uriah would  not go. At the first instant he slept with other servants at the door of the King’s palace ( 2 Sam 11:9) Then the king tried to convince him to go to his house.But he said the following.2Sa 11:11 KJV “And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.” This man was a servant of great honour.That is what every deacon must be, a person of great conviction who places honouring God before pleasure

​

Apostle Peter describes the quality of deacons as people of honest report. Well, that is the same as being grave. Deacons have a great need for honesty , since one of their roles is to handle the finances of the church. I heard a story of a deacon whose duty was to count the offerings that came into the church. This deacon, like Judas, has been stealing some of the money and then hiding it in his socks. A brother gave an amount in foreign currency, but somehow hinted to the pastor about it. That day, the pastor enquired whether they had seen that foreign currency among the notes that were counted . This man said no. One of the elders insisted that they search the brother to see whether he has taken those foreign notes or not. Lo  and Behold, they found the money in his pair of socks . It is always good  to find out how honest a person is before being appointed to be a deacon.

​

THOUGHT: DO NOT BE HASTY TO APPOINT DEACONS, BE CERTAIN ABOUT THEIR GRAVITY

​

FURTHER STUDIES

​

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

​

Phi 2:15 KJV” That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;:

​​