Just Do It God’s Way

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. — 1 Timothy 3:8-13

With this text, I feel compelled to say something about God, church, men, women, leadership, and God’s order of these things.

When we turn back to the first pages of the Bible, we discover that God created order. He did things with a specific order in mind. But very quickly, everything got out of order. We only get to the third chapter, and we discover disorder. Even though God’s order was simple — God, man, woman, and creatures. Each is created with purpose and order in mind. But in chapter three, everything gets out of this order when sin enters the world. It gets reversed. A creature is persuading the woman, who persuades the man, who ignores God’s orders and even blames God for giving him the woman. Thus we got what we got — out of order which led to disorder. And ever since this moment, culture has been at odds with God’s order.

Instead, God wants his church to function differently. He wants mankind to submit to him and his order. And one of the places where we live and work this out is his church. Be mindful that God’s church does not function in the same order as the world. So by nature, the order of the church makes outsiders a little uncomfortable. Many will look for ways around God’s order when it orders like this in the New Testament, which is what got us into this problem in the first place. But honestly, I am okay with that. Not because I happen to be a man. But instead, because it ain’t my church. I don’t get to decide. I don’t get to make up the rules. The church belongs to God. It’s his institution. He gets to decide. It’s not mine to decide; therefore, even I need to get in line with that.

At the same time, I need to say there is a right and wrong way for men to lead — both in and outside the church. The wrong way would be to either do nothing or demand submission based on God’s order. This is not what this text is about. This text is about Timothy selecting proven men who speak, act, and are motivated to fall in line with God’s plan for his church. And that if they are married, they have wives who speak, act, and are motivated to follow God’s plan for his church. That’s it.

Nothing good happens when we do things our way. As godly men, we have to do things God’s way. He is the Lord. Therefore when we encounter scriptures like this, and we have this subtle urge to find some way around it, can I make a suggestion? Don’t try to find a way around it. That’s what happened in the garden. We sought a way around it. And there are two ways we did this. First was active disobedience, modeled by the woman. The second was passive disobedience modeled by the man. Don’t do either. Just do it God’s way. Follow his order and orders, even if you don’t like them and it doesn’t make sense. Things always work more orderly when we do it this way.

ASK THIS: Where in your life are you trying to find ways around God’s orders?

DO THIS: Don’t do it. Just do it God’s way. And in the right way.

PRAY THIS: God, clarify for me where I do things my way and not your way.

PLAY THIS:  God Turn It Around.