GOOD DEGREE… GREAT BOLDNESS. 1st Timothy 3:13. Good standing in a family, community, and congregation is not accidental. It is what can be expected when one leads God’s people and their families according to the ways of the Lord. The word of God, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and personal commitment to follow the Lord give credibility to a person’s work. Being consistent in words and actions is enough reason for people to trust one’s leadership. Faithfulness in the responsibilities they are given and the service they perform work in more than one way. Others will observe and respond positively to such leaders. The faithful deacons will gain a sense of holy boldness when they preach the Gospel. They will become confident in their obedience to God as they approach Him in prayer for guidance and wisdom. They become accustomed to God being with them during difficulties and when they face hard decisions. Their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ becomes very real to them and obvious to those they serve in His name.
Rising higher in the eyes of others is not a bad thing, as long as it comes from a good reputation. Self-exaltation will always lead to God eventually bringing you down, but a “good degree” is a higher step in your work that others see and that you lead. Dignity that is maintained often shows itself during tough times when hidden character traits become visible. Influence and respect grow as a person works for God confidently, and all the criticism that comes with that work becomes like an empty shell.
Each work God assigns is unique. This doesn’t mean that one person and their work are less important than another. Whether someone is a bishop or a deacon, each is a serving brother. To earn a “good degree” does not mean rising to a different status, but rather that God has given me the grace needed in the work He has given me to fulfill it appropriately.
“Great boldness” is not arrogant and doesn’t always mean speaking in public. It involves openness and frankness when someone is seeking your counsel. There is a kind of manliness when a person knows what he’s talking about, and he can meet the needs of others through his exercise of faith, without needing to advertise what he has done or boast about it. His faith is strong; his character, too, because it is built upon the solid rock of divine truth, a new birth, and a newly given divine nature. The truth of God revealed in the Bible is that he uses it when talking to others. It doesn’t necessarily mean one is a preacher, but he knows his God and can offer solid teaching when speaking to others, strengthening their faith in the Lord.
Make good use of the office God has given you, and don’t let yourself be sidetracked. God appointed you to this work, and He will provide what you need. He will ensure that in this calling you have, there is a full supply of grace to carry out His will. When this “good degree” is clear, it is often accompanied by “boldness of faith.”