As the church begins to grow, it becomes evident how difficult it is to know how to conduct yourself in the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Tim. 3:15. The requirements for deacons (servants in the church) are especially stringent. They are to behave with dignity (Norw.), not be double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money. They are to conduct themselves with “dignity.” Think about that. This little word says a lot. They are not to be double-tongued; that means you can trust what they say. It is not dignified to be double-tongued. In Mediterranean countries where wine is commonly drunk with food, there might be a tendency to drink too much wine. Such conduct is not dignified. A servant in the church must be able to control all his inclinations. A deacon must not be greedy for money. Many have destroyed themselves with this vice. The world, though, does not consider it a vice, but rather something honorable. The pursuit of money consumes all of a person’s time, so that he has virtually no opportunity to meditate on the law of the Lord. Sirach says that wisdom comes by the opportunity of leisure. How can a person become wise when he is busy night and day with his earthly tasks? No one will seek his counsel in the gate or in the council of the wise. Deacons must hold the mystery of faith with a pure conscience. For a servant this means that he must have the inner assurance that absolutely everything he says and does is acceptable in the sight of God, nothing less. Much is hidden in this little verse. If a person wants to keep his conscience pure in his ministry, he must to be prepared to suffer. He must learn to esteem the reproach of Christ as an honor and exaltation. Evil cannot overcome evil, but it can be overcome with good. You cannot drive out one devil with another. It is not enough that a servant merely has the correct form of doctrine. Regarding the Pharisees, Jesus said that people should do what they said, but not follow their works. The apostle Paul praised Timothy for carefully following him in his doctrine; in other words, Timothy had in truth followed the doctrine—he had walked according to it. This gave him a deep insight into the doctrine that is from God. 2 Tim. 3:10. Therefore Paul adds, “My . . . manner of life.” If we follow the doctrine, our conduct in the church will be apostolic. “You have carefully followed my . . . purpose . . . .” Paul’s motives were noble, and Timothy had followed them. See how keenly observant the apostle was. “You have carefully followed my . . . faith . . . .” How unshakable the apostle’s faith was, even to death, and how firm and resolute all his works became in this faith! His conduct in the church was an expression of his steadfastness! God’s good pleasure rested over it all. “You have carefully followed my . . . longsuffering, love, perseverance . . . .” Who is pure on this point? Who can say, “I have followed the apostle in longsuffering, love and patience”? A great deal is required of a servant of the Lord with regard to his conduct in the church of the living God. Love suffers long; it bears all things. If we love God’s church, we bear all things so it can flourish. Love hopes all things. We have hope for the most stubborn, obstinate and damaged individuals, and because of this, we can be patient and longsuffering. When a person meets hardness with hardness, and demands obedience because he is a “servant of the Lord,” he has become more like a lord and a ruler. This is not the way to conduct yourself in the house of God. We must be examples to the flock. 1 Pet. 5:3. “You have carefully followed my . . . persecutions, afflictions . . . .” Such conduct results in a godly life. Wouldn’t the churches blossom and thrive if this divine attitude of mind prevailed! If servants in the church follow this guideline, they will quite naturally be esteemed and honored within the church. Servants must be the first ones to demonstrate good conduct. They will be examples, and the whole church will quite naturally follow their example. We see from Israel’s history that when their kings were ungodly, they drew the people with them, but if the kings were God-fearing, they drew the entire nation in that same direction. Servants in the church should first be tested to see if they are faithful. If they are found blameless, they can serve in the church. A young brother cannot be regarded as a servant in the church in the biblical sense just because he is eloquent and knows his Bible. He must first be tested and have stood faithfully in his test. It is a mistake when older friends unreservedly rely on the dictates and commands of an untried, younger servant of the Lord, without him first being tested. Everyone must consider and test what is being said. When we each allow the peace and love of Christ to rule, things will go well, whether we are God’s co-workers or God’s field.Johan O. Smith