Rewarding Work

We are in the middle of our annual affirmation month for church officers. The process isn't spelled out in Scripture, but it is informed by numerous biblical principles. The Bible does speak directly about the offices themselves, with responsibilities and requirements. Those who hold the offices have a lot to answer for.

Over the years we've considered the work of elders frequently though we've never had a message on deacons. This message will be a combo effort, with a particular emphasis on the rewards promised to men who are faithful in their role.

Here's the point: Paul opens and closes his instructions in 1 Timothy 6:1-13 with the same word, good. The work of elders and deacons is hard work, but God calls it good work, and He rewards it.

We are a two-office church. There are a number of functions that leaders in a local church must do, but we think there are only two formal titles. Most agree with one of those offices being that of the deacons. And then overseer/bishop, and elder/presbyter, and pastor/shepherd are all ways to describe the work of the one other office.

Some distinguish teaching elders from ruling elders, but all elders rule and teach; some labor at teaching more (1 Timothy 5:17). Titles such as “senior,” "executive,” or "lead" pastor have been brought in from the business world, unhelpfully, and the pattern is that churches have a plurality of elders.

We get instruction about both elders and deacons in 1 Timothy 3:1-13. These officers are important for "the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth" (1 Timothy 3:15).

What elders and deacons do is barely described in 1 Timothy 3. Timothy must have known the verbs, and Paul's letter emphasized the virtues.

That said, Acts 6 provides a pattern for deacons and makes a clear division between two groups. Elders aren't apostles, but elders carry on the apostles' teaching. Acknowledging the importance of distributing food, the apostles said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables" (verse 2). They had the disciples help pick out men for the apostles to appoint, while "we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word" (verse 4).

There are responsibilities for liturgy and responsibilities for living. There are needs, soul and body. Deacons were servants of mercy in physical, tangible means, and elders were servants of truth and gospel and renewed minds. Elders preach the Word, lead in baptisms and communion, and oversee church discipline. So pastors equip saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12), and that builds up the church. Deacons are elder-helpers in that they free up elders to do more than administrative tasks.

Elders have the responsibility to “[keep] watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you" (Hebrews 13:17). Even if you never hold an office, this passage is still relevant for you. You get to decide whether your leaders keep watch with joy or with groaning.

Paul exhorted the elders in Ephesus: “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28 LSB). It's a big responsibility.

It's good to be reminded that the requirements are about a man's character visible in conduct, not ultimately about his personal charisma or persuasive rhetoric or even the number of followers. This applies to both elders and deacons.

Elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7) should want to do the work (verse 11); they must work willingly not under compulsion (1 Peter 5:2). They do not live without sin, but they do not sin by habit. They are faithful to their (one) wife, they are not addicted to wine or fighting, they manage their kids and households. They are not to be brand-new Christians, and they should have a good reputation with outsiders, as much as depends on them. The only giftedness issue is "able to teach," though that is tucked into the middle of the list.

Deacons likewise have need for a certain and visible character (1 Timothy 3:8-13). They should not be liars, drunkards, or idolaters for the dollar. They must not be mere philanthropists, they are Christians, holding the mystery of the faith (verse 9). And Paul tells us what that mystery is a few verses later: Christ Himself, "manifested in the flesh" (verse 16). Deacons hold on to Christ. They must be committed to their (one) wife, and their wife must be trustworthy.

It is also required of deacons that they be tested first, and then affirmed with the title of deacon (verse 10). They should be given assignments, they should be observed in the work, and passing the test is proven character. Every rain jacket looks waterproof on the store rack, but you find out on a November afternoon in Marysville. How long is the period of testing? We've put it as a year. Who grades? We think the whole flock, similar to the "full number of the disciples" (Acts 6:2), with the final appointment by the elders.

God wants faithfulness. Fruitfulness is multi-faceted, and higher numbers aren’t proof of God's blessing unless it is attended with increased godliness. It's not only how many parking spots are filled, but how much progress and joy in the faith.

Working with sinners is a pain in the heart. It would be a thousand times easier - at the front end - to have no love, so no expectations, so no need to confront or discipline, and carry no "daily pressure" of "anxiety for all the churches" (2 Corinthians 11:28).

There are heartbreaks. There are gnarly situations, ugly relationships, and if you minister long enough in one place you will see generational consequences of sin. We carry the treasure of the gospel in clay pots, we are used up and worn out (2 Corinthians 4:7). The world often sees church leaders as "the scum of the world, the refuse of all things" (1 Corinthians 4:13).

But the glory of light shines against darkness. The glory of love is demonstrated toward the sinner. The glory of endurance cannot be denied when it bears up under the load to the end. The switchbacks up Mount Pilchuck are miserable. And nobody at the lookout wishes they’d stayed in the car.

This word is trustworthy: Being an elder is the kind of office a man should aspire to. It's the kind of work worth desiring. Aspire and desire because it is good work, a noble task (1 Timothy 3:1). This good is seen and admired, so praiseworthy. It’s not just useful, it’s honorable.

For deacons, "those who serve well as deacons gain a good (“high” LSB) standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 3:13).

Paul opens and closes this list with the same word: good (καλός). It’s a good work in verse 1; there is a good standing in verse 13. Between the two is the character that makes it good. And that goodness is rewarded in three ways.

1. There is reward in the work itself. For elders it is a great joy to see your children walking in the truth (3 John 4). For deacons they gain “great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (verse 13).
2. There is reward in the honor among (some) men. Part of the reward is "good standing" (verse 13). and you can give it. Thank one deacon by naming the specific task he And “let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor” (1 Timothy 5:17).
3. And there is reward from God Himself, at the proper time. "When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory" (1 Peter 5:4). Rewards land as God's grace, not professional perks.

It is rewarding work.

There is a crisis in the modern church, as in, not enough men in training to replace the men retiring. Even at TEC, it might seem that we shoot ourselves in the pastoral foot as we emphasize that full-time vocational ministry is not, in itself, more pleasing to God. We know that not many should be teachers, it has higher difficulty and accountability (James 3:1), and the burdens do not quit.

That said, I pray almost every day that God would bless our elders, that He would give us wisdom and nerve and jealousability, so that we would be found faithful and so that we could "entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). We want more pastors.

We also desire more deacons. On a practical level, it would be strategic to have a deacon in each of our small groups. On a testimony level, it would be strategic to have deacons with enough wisdom and love and time to consider how our church could serve our city.

This is affirmation month, and you are part of the testing process (verse 10). Pray for your leaders. Give thanks when you have reason to do so. You can make it more of an advantage for yourself to make yourself less a cause of groaning for your leaders. And you can aspire for more reward for yourself by prayerfully pursuing the work of an elder or deacon.

"Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). Christ Jesus obtained the flock with His own blood, and every elder and deacon serves until the chief Shepherd appears.

We carry the treasure of the gospel in clay pots to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. Pray that grace would extend to more and more people. Proclaim that Jesus is Lord, trust that He will open blind eyes. Look to the reward. Do not lose heart.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:57–58 ESV)