Qualities of Deacons and Members

No. 4

By

Shelby G. Floyd

March 19, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

4.

 

Deacons Must Be Not Greedy For Filthy Lucre (Money)

 

     The fourth attribute or quality of deacons and members of the church is also a negative one. “Deacons in like manner must be…not greedy of filthy lucre.” (1 Timothy 3:8 ASV).  It is very important that a deacon not be a lover of money, for this qualification is mentioned several times in regards to the appointment of both elders and deacons, (1 Timothy 3:3, 8; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:2) Lucre is not a bad word within itself. Our English word lucrative is derived from the root and simply means to be profitable. Any one who has a business expects it to be profitable. In our text, “greedy of filthy lucre” derives from [mh aiscrokerdeis--me aiscrokerdeis]. It is translated by such language as “not fond of sordid gain”—NASB, “not pursuing dishonest gain”—NIV, “not greedy for dishonest gain”—ESV, “not greedy for money”—NKJV. All one needs to do to see why the Holy Spirit listed this qualification for deacons, is to read the newspapers and watch the news programs, and witness the citizens, preachers, business men and politicians being indicted and carted off to prison because of shady, illegal and dishonest deals to get rich quick! 

 

Members of the Church Must Be Not Greedy of Filthy Lucre (Money)

 

     Again, this negative is not just for the deacons, but is applicable to every member of the church. A form of the word above that is applied to the deacons, is also found in the New Testament and applied to every child of God. Paul commanded Titus to appoint good men not greedy of money to the body of elders (Titus 1:7), because they would need to stop the mouths of the unruly, deceiving talkers who would destroy whole families for the sake of “filthy lucre”—[aiscros-aiscros and kerdos-kerdos, Titus 1:11].

 

Titus 1:10-11

For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. [Emphasis SGF]

NIV

 

     It is very important that each one of us who is a member of the Lord’s church, keep ourselves away from the love of money. Money is not evil, but an inordinate love of money is evil. Paul clearly taught this to Timothy and the believers of the early church:

 

1 Timothy 6:9-10

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [Emphasis SGF].

NKJV

 

Deacons

Attribute

Christians

“Deacons in like manner must be not greedy of filthy lucre” –1 Timothy 3:8 ASV

Not fond of shameful gain

—1 Timothy 3:8

1 Timothy 6:9-10

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [Emphasis SGF].

NKJV

 

 

     Let all, members and deacons alike, avoid this “money trap” laid by the devil to ensnare our souls and keep us from being faithful servants of Jesus Christ. Copyright © 2009 Shelby Floyd, All Rights Reserved