“FOR THOSE WHO serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 3:13). “A good standing for themselves”—is there a place for an ambitious person in Christ? At the close of an address to a civic club a member arose and said, “There seems to be no place for an ambitious person in Christianity.” He was right if by an ambitious person we mean an egoistic place and power seeker. The first thing Christianity demands is self-surrender. The ego, trying to be God, must be renounced and surrendered. Once that surrender is made, however, there is a place in Christianity for the ambitious. The ambition now has a new motive and goal—we are ambitious to serve. The word “deacon” comes from dia, “through,” and konos, “the dust.” This calls up the figure of the camel driver going through the dust leading the camel while someone else sits on the camel. The deacon is the humble server, going through the dust.
An amazing thing happens, however. The servant of all becomes the greatest of all. Jesus said that “whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave” (Matt. 20:26–27). If you would be great, be a servant; if first, be a slave. Degrees of self-giving determine the heights to which you rise. The deacon who forgets himself in self-giving service gets, as a byproduct, a good standing for himself. He wants nothing except to serve, and gets everything. Moreover, there is another byproduct: he gains “great confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” He gains great confidence in the faith; he sees that it works; it is self-verifying. He feels he has the sum total of reality behind him. The egoistic feel inwardly insecure. The self-giving, serving type feel confidence and security. They feel they are on the right track.
O Lord Jesus, when we take Thy way, we know that it is the way. When we are obedient to Thy will, we know it is the will. When we live Thy life, we know it is the life. This great confidence possesses us. Glory be! Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I have great confidence in the faith because I have great confidence in the center of that faith, Christ.
