Morning Moments

[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.

The deacon's spirit of control is also to be seen in his refusal to be guilty of disgraceful gain as seen in the phrase "filthy lucre" which is indecent, dishonorable gain. A person who is eager to gain even if such gain degrades his moral character.

This is one who delights in gain that is shady and dishonest. If a man makes money in such a way as taking advantage of or exploiting another for his own gain, he is guilty of filthy lucre, and thus disqualifies himself as a deacon. If you have to lie to someone about your profit; if you have to cheat someone in order to gain; if you have to deceive to get ahead, you are GUILTY and should resign as a deacon immediately. And if your pastor tries to talk you out of it, he should be ashamed of himself. We should serve with a clear conscience and good reputation.

Verse 9 gives us three additional qualifications regarding the reputation of a deacon. He is to be a man of doctrine (sound of course). He is to be a man of devotion (10a), and a man of distinction (10b).

A MAN OF DOCTRINE: "holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience". In the Bible we find several "mysteries" or truths hidden from the world but revealed to believers. There is the mystery of Christ (God in flesh), the mystery of God, the mystery of godliness, the mystery of iniquity, the mystery of lawlessness, the mystery of the gospel, and the mystery of the kingdom of God. The knowledge of these mysteries is known only to the true believer as revealed in the Scripture, by the Holy Spirit.

The term "the faith" does not refer to personal faith, as was seen in chapter one, but to that body of truth once for all devlivered unto the saints. This is the sound doctrine given to the early church through the apostles from the Lord and is to be observed and obeyed by these men who serve the church.

"Holding" means to keep, to preserve, to possess, to cling to. This man, full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit thus affirms by lip and life the sound teaching of Scripture. He is to be a man of Biblical convictions as opposed to being merely a man of personal preferences.

"Pure conscience" is when the Holy Spirit who indwells the true believer is allowed to prompt the conscience which either accuses or excuses every thought, word, and deed. The judgments of this man are not based of inheritance, experience, or education but upon the Word of God which he highly esteems. The Scripture says, "to him who knows to do good and does it not, to him that is sin". We must stop the madness of popularity contests in the selection of leaders in the local church. We do not need them if they are not godly men.

BLESSINGS!