And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
Those chosen as deacons must first be proved and found blameless before they take up the office. Proving is trial by God through faithfulness in smaller and less responsible duties, beginning with ruling the home well, so that faithfulness in little shows fitness for larger trust and neglect at home reveals unfitness for the church. Fitness is shown by the quality of the work and its fruit, by fear of God, humility, love of truth, willingness to be counseled and reproved, and endurance under trial as one led by Jesus, and not by mere willingness, prayer, or persuasive speech alone. The blameless are grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of gain, holding the faith in a pure conscience, sound in self-control, free from jealousy, favoritism and prejudice, and dependable in judgment and conduct. The same standard belongs to elders and to all placed in positions of trust, and no one whose habits and conduct are known to be wrong is to be appointed or excused, nor anyone set over sanitarium and other weighty work without first being tested and tried.
Proved Before Serving
Those chosen as deacons must first be proved and found blameless before they take up the office. Proving is trial and proof by God through faithfulness in smaller and less responsible Christian duties, beginning with home training and ruling the home well. If faithful in the smaller duties they will be faithful in larger and more responsible positions, and those remiss in home duties will reveal the same defective character in church duties.
To be proved means to gain religious experience with thorough education and training, depth of experience, and firm conscientious principle to be all that God would have them be. Qualifications and value are developed and made known over time as advancing work brings circumstances calling for careful consideration. Therefore ministerial labor is not to be given to boys nor Bible readings to young girls merely because they offer themselves and are willing to take responsible positions, since missionary work requires workers of the right class of mind, with devotion and piety that will correctly represent the faith. Those young in the work must have the help of those who have had experience and understand the manner of working, with church members and teachers feeling the burden to labor with them, to open before them the claims of God upon all their powers, and to pray with and for them, or their convictions will be stifled and they will be drawn into the worldly current by other influences and by temptation to seek financial gain. Likewise no one is to be placed in a position of trust in God's institution without first being tried and proved, no one constantly watching for opportunities to serve self is to be employed, and no appointment is to be made that would work against the good of the institution.
Fitness is shown by the quality of the work and its fruit, by evidence of fearing God and walking constantly in humility and love of the truth, by willingness to be counseled and acceptance of reproof, and by endurance under proving as one led by the Lord Jesus who will be a blessing and will not betray the work into the hands of the enemy. Mere willingness to serve, prayer, or persuasive speech alone does not prove fitness for sacred labor. Workers who have not been proved may confuse and scatter rather than build up, while faithful, self-sacrificing workers bear good fruit. Weighty duties belong to experienced, God-fearing, tested people who demonstrate ability to fulfill them properly and will accept God's reproof.
The passage in 1 Timothy 3:10-16 is to be read together with the charge to preach the Word with all long-suffering and doctrine, to endure affliction, and to make full proof of ministry. It is instruction for laborers together with God to carry forward aggressive work on Bible principles with Christlike simplicity, patience, forbearance and love that convinces rather than condemns. In dealing with unreasonable and wicked men they must not come down to their level or use satanic weapons, but keep Jesus uplifted and use spiritual weapons.
Blameless Character Described
Those set apart as deacons must first be proved and found blameless before taking up the office. Proving is trial and proof by God through faithfulness in smaller and less responsible Christian duties, beginning with home training and ruling the home well. Faithfulness in the smaller duties shows faithfulness in larger and more responsible positions, while remissness in home duties reveals the same defective character in church duties. After giving evidence of fearing God and walking constantly in humility and love of the truth, with willingness to be counseled, they are qualified to bear higher responsibilities as deacons of the churches. The proved deacon is grave, not double-tongued speaking fair to the face and disparaging behind the back, not given to much wine, not greedy of gain, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience with a faith that works by love and purifies the soul.
Those proved fit for responsibility show sound character and self-control, so that their judgment and conduct can be relied on. They are free from jealousy, favoritism and prejudice, treat people impartially, and are dependable in character. Fitness for responsible positions is shown by being tested and giving evidence of fitness for the work, and for physicians, helpers, and others in responsible positions this same tested character is required.
Proving fitness includes order in the home under God's order for the church, which depends on faithful practice of the Word and responsible order in the home. Fathers and mothers under the control of God must educate, train and discipline their children in right habits and practices, keeping them under parental control and requiring obedience and order. They must give the world and the church an example of a well-disciplined family, including correct example in eating, in dressing, and in working in right lines. Neglect of these home duties is neglect to set the church in order and eclipses the light, and those who refuse to see the necessity for this home work will be blinded so they will not see the necessity of obeying God in other lines.
Standard Applied Widely
The testing and blamelessness required of deacons are equally essential for elders, who must hold to true principles even under opposition and trial. The standard includes practical faithfulness to the light on temperance and health reform. Leaders must not appoint or excuse a person whose known habits and conduct are wrong, for to do so sanctions the error and makes them responsible for the resulting harm to the church.
Ministerial labor is not to be given to boys, nor the giving of Bible readings to young girls, merely because they offer themselves and are willing to take responsible positions. Missionary work requires workers of the right class of mind, with devotion and piety that will correctly represent the faith, and to be proved means to gain religious experience with thorough education and training, depth of experience, and firm conscientious principle to be all that God would have them be. Those young in the work must have the help of those with experience who understand the manner of working, with church members and teachers feeling the burden to labor with them, to open before them the claims of God upon all their powers, and to pray with and for them. Without this, their convictions will be stifled and they will be drawn into the worldly current by other influences and by temptation to seek financial gain.
No one is to be placed in a position of trust in sanitarium work at the beginning without first being tested and tried, and no mistake must be made in choosing. Physicians, helpers, and others in responsible positions must demonstrate the same proved character, showing sound character and self-control, freedom from jealousy and prejudice, and judgment and conduct that can be relied on. Weighty duties belong to experienced, God-fearing, tested people who will accept reproof and demonstrate ability to fulfill the duties properly. No one constantly watching to serve self is to be employed, and no appointment is to be made that would work against the good of the institution, since proving reveals whether workers are led by Jesus, with those who are enduring the proving, proving a blessing, and not betraying the work, while qualifications and value are developed and made known over time as advancing work brings circumstances calling for careful consideration.
Those chosen must understand the Lord's will and discern what needs to be done and prayerfully do it so that past mistakes and errors are not repeated. The business manager in particular must daily be managed by the Lord, possessing dignity and knowledge with a clear sense of authority, with Christ revealed in life, able to give religious instruction and exert spiritual influence. He must know how to deal with minds while his own mind is controlled by the Spirit, speaking wisdom and encouragement, discerning and correcting mistakes, harmonizing with fellow workers, possessing adaptability, and able to speak the points of faith as occasion requires, with words and acts revealing justice, judgment, and the love of God. Workers who have not been proved may confuse and scatter rather than build up, while faithful, self-sacrificing workers bear good fruit, and prayer or persuasive speech alone does not prove fitness for sacred labor.
Those chosen as deacons must first be proved and found blameless before they take up the office. Proving is trial by God through faithfulness in smaller and less responsible duties, beginning with ruling the home well, so that faithfulness in little shows fitness for larger trust and neglect at home reveals unfitness for the church. Fitness is shown by the quality of the work and its fruit, by fear of God, humility, love of truth, willingness to be counseled and reproved, and endurance under trial as one led by Jesus, and not by mere willingness, prayer, or persuasive speech alone. The blameless are grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of gain, holding the faith in a pure conscience, sound in self-control, free from jealousy, favoritism and prejudice, and dependable in judgment and conduct. The same standard belongs to elders and to all placed in positions of trust, and no one whose habits and conduct are known to be wrong is to be appointed or excused, nor anyone set over sanitarium and other weighty work without first being tested and tried.
Proved Before Serving
Those chosen as deacons must first be proved and found blameless before they take up the office. Proving is trial and proof by God through faithfulness in smaller and less responsible Christian duties, beginning with home training and ruling the home well. If faithful in the smaller duties they will be faithful in larger and more responsible positions, and those remiss in home duties will reveal the same defective character in church duties.
To be proved means to gain religious experience with thorough education and training, depth of experience, and firm conscientious principle to be all that God would have them be. Qualifications and value are developed and made known over time as advancing work brings circumstances calling for careful consideration. Therefore ministerial labor is not to be given to boys nor Bible readings to young girls merely because they offer themselves and are willing to take responsible positions, since missionary work requires workers of the right class of mind, with devotion and piety that will correctly represent the faith. Those young in the work must have the help of those who have had experience and understand the manner of working, with church members and teachers feeling the burden to labor with them, to open before them the claims of God upon all their powers, and to pray with and for them, or their convictions will be stifled and they will be drawn into the worldly current by other influences and by temptation to seek financial gain. Likewise no one is to be placed in a position of trust in God's institution without first being tried and proved, no one constantly watching for opportunities to serve self is to be employed, and no appointment is to be made that would work against the good of the institution.
Fitness is shown by the quality of the work and its fruit, by evidence of fearing God and walking constantly in humility and love of the truth, by willingness to be counseled and acceptance of reproof, and by endurance under proving as one led by the Lord Jesus who will be a blessing and will not betray the work into the hands of the enemy. Mere willingness to serve, prayer, or persuasive speech alone does not prove fitness for sacred labor. Workers who have not been proved may confuse and scatter rather than build up, while faithful, self-sacrificing workers bear good fruit. Weighty duties belong to experienced, God-fearing, tested people who demonstrate ability to fulfill them properly and will accept God's reproof.
The passage in 1 Timothy 3:10-16 is to be read together with the charge to preach the Word with all long-suffering and doctrine, to endure affliction, and to make full proof of ministry. It is instruction for laborers together with God to carry forward aggressive work on Bible principles with Christlike simplicity, patience, forbearance and love that convinces rather than condemns. In dealing with unreasonable and wicked men they must not come down to their level or use satanic weapons, but keep Jesus uplifted and use spiritual weapons.
Blameless Character Described
Those set apart as deacons must first be proved and found blameless before taking up the office. Proving is trial and proof by God through faithfulness in smaller and less responsible Christian duties, beginning with home training and ruling the home well. Faithfulness in the smaller duties shows faithfulness in larger and more responsible positions, while remissness in home duties reveals the same defective character in church duties. After giving evidence of fearing God and walking constantly in humility and love of the truth, with willingness to be counseled, they are qualified to bear higher responsibilities as deacons of the churches. The proved deacon is grave, not double-tongued speaking fair to the face and disparaging behind the back, not given to much wine, not greedy of gain, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience with a faith that works by love and purifies the soul.
Those proved fit for responsibility show sound character and self-control, so that their judgment and conduct can be relied on. They are free from jealousy, favoritism and prejudice, treat people impartially, and are dependable in character. Fitness for responsible positions is shown by being tested and giving evidence of fitness for the work, and for physicians, helpers, and others in responsible positions this same tested character is required.
Proving fitness includes order in the home under God's order for the church, which depends on faithful practice of the Word and responsible order in the home. Fathers and mothers under the control of God must educate, train and discipline their children in right habits and practices, keeping them under parental control and requiring obedience and order. They must give the world and the church an example of a well-disciplined family, including correct example in eating, in dressing, and in working in right lines. Neglect of these home duties is neglect to set the church in order and eclipses the light, and those who refuse to see the necessity for this home work will be blinded so they will not see the necessity of obeying God in other lines.
Standard Applied Widely
The testing and blamelessness required of deacons are equally essential for elders, who must hold to true principles even under opposition and trial. The standard includes practical faithfulness to the light on temperance and health reform. Leaders must not appoint or excuse a person whose known habits and conduct are wrong, for to do so sanctions the error and makes them responsible for the resulting harm to the church.
Ministerial labor is not to be given to boys, nor the giving of Bible readings to young girls, merely because they offer themselves and are willing to take responsible positions. Missionary work requires workers of the right class of mind, with devotion and piety that will correctly represent the faith, and to be proved means to gain religious experience with thorough education and training, depth of experience, and firm conscientious principle to be all that God would have them be. Those young in the work must have the help of those with experience who understand the manner of working, with church members and teachers feeling the burden to labor with them, to open before them the claims of God upon all their powers, and to pray with and for them. Without this, their convictions will be stifled and they will be drawn into the worldly current by other influences and by temptation to seek financial gain.
No one is to be placed in a position of trust in sanitarium work at the beginning without first being tested and tried, and no mistake must be made in choosing. Physicians, helpers, and others in responsible positions must demonstrate the same proved character, showing sound character and self-control, freedom from jealousy and prejudice, and judgment and conduct that can be relied on. Weighty duties belong to experienced, God-fearing, tested people who will accept reproof and demonstrate ability to fulfill the duties properly. No one constantly watching to serve self is to be employed, and no appointment is to be made that would work against the good of the institution, since proving reveals whether workers are led by Jesus, with those who are enduring the proving, proving a blessing, and not betraying the work, while qualifications and value are developed and made known over time as advancing work brings circumstances calling for careful consideration.
Those chosen must understand the Lord's will and discern what needs to be done and prayerfully do it so that past mistakes and errors are not repeated. The business manager in particular must daily be managed by the Lord, possessing dignity and knowledge with a clear sense of authority, with Christ revealed in life, able to give religious instruction and exert spiritual influence. He must know how to deal with minds while his own mind is controlled by the Spirit, speaking wisdom and encouragement, discerning and correcting mistakes, harmonizing with fellow workers, possessing adaptability, and able to speak the points of faith as occasion requires, with words and acts revealing justice, judgment, and the love of God. Workers who have not been proved may confuse and scatter rather than build up, while faithful, self-sacrificing workers bear good fruit, and prayer or persuasive speech alone does not prove fitness for sacred labor.