Anyone in a leadership position has a great deal of responsibility, and needs to take it seriously. James 3:1 says, "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." That is why the Bible tells us not to place a novice in the position of being a pastor or a deacon. The bishop (overseer) or pastor (shepherd), 1 Timothy 3:1-7, "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) NOT A NOVICE, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." The deacon, 1 Timothy 3:8-13, "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. AND LET THESE ALSO FIRST BE PROVED; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." With such grave responsibilities, the Bible warns not to place novices and unproved people into the positions of pastor and deacons. There is not only the matter of the decisions that the pastor and deacons make, but also what they say. A pastor says a lot of words in front of people. That is a tremendous responsibility for which he must one day answer. Matthew 12:36, 37 says, "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Proverbs 10:19 says, "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." In other words, the more that you speak, the greater the possibility of saying the wrong thing.
Posted on: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 19:19:48 +0000
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