Deserve Recognition

 DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

DESERVING RECOGNITION

1 Cor 16:15-18

15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, 16 to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.

NIV

Paul makes his remarks about certain men who came to see him. They were some of the first who accepted the gospel message in Corinth and devoted themselves to the service of the saints. What exactly does that mean? This Greek word used here for service is where we get the English word deacon from. The other Greek word used here for devoted is translated in other versions as they addicted themselves. It carries the meaning of assigned or even ordained or appointed. We do not know if they appointed themselves or ordained themselves, but it does appear that Paul indicates this was the three men’s choice to determine to serve the others. This gives us the concept that we should only appoint people to a position of ministry who are already acting in the manner of that ministry. In other words, in the case of these three men, they were already acting in a manner of service to others and Paul says they deserve the recognition. A title should only be assigned to someone who is already being what that title infers. When we look at how the Apostles felt it was needed to have some men to take on the duties serving in the distribution of food. Again, the Greek word used means deacon. So, Stephen and six others were elected. But looking at the qualifications they were to be men full of the Spirit and wisdom. In other words, men who were already acting in a manner of a leader servant. It may seem in our post-modern churches, we simply look for people to fill roles, and pay little attention to if they are either qualified or meet the qualifications. This is true especially considering Paul’s instructions as to the qualifications for elders and deacons in his letter to Timothy. Nevertheless, the fact is that those who have determined to serve others, to join in the work and labors in that work, deserve recognition. However, there is one point that seems to be left out in many cases in our post-modern churches. Do those who are overseers, such as pastors and those who are deacons, refresh our spirits? We certainly think that pastors should and would, but what about our deacons, and again in our churches of today, we include deaconesses? Do they refresh our spirits? Maybe that is one of the primary roles of deacons, along with joining in the work. It also seems the church in general is supposed to submit to such individuals who join in the work and labor at it, refreshing our spirits. If they are being such individuals then we should recognize them as such, acknowledge them as who they are and what they do.