1 Timothy 3:8

1 Timothy 3:8 says, Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;   Paul then gave God’s requirements for deacons, those who were to assist the bishops, or pastors, in carrying out the everyday tasks of the church.  They were very similar to the requirements of the bishops, and in neither case did it mean that they were somehow to believe themselves to be better than any other Christian.  They would simply be doing what God had called them to do, just as every follower of Christ should. 

Verse nine adds, Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.  The deacons were to be true believers in Christ and hold His truth to be more important than everything else.  They were to believe in the mystery of salvation, which could come only from putting their faith in the crucified and resurrected Lord.  Without doing this, none of the other requirements would matter, even if they met them all, which they would be unable to do. 

Verse ten continues, And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.  Paul said that the person who would be a deacon should first be proven to be faithful in their relationship with Jesus Christ and also should be a good witness to the world by the way that they live their lives.  If a person is to be a deacon today, I believe that they should feel called to do so by God and that their life should reflect Jesus Christ to the world.  

Verse eleven states, Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.  God even stated some requirements for the wife of a deacon.  Since in the eyes of God they had become one person, in their actions they should make sure they each reflected God to the world.  Wives were to be truthful, sober, and faithful to God in all things.  Though they would at times fall short on this last requirement, they were still to strive to be.  This still applies today, I believe.

Verse twelve adds, Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.  This requirement is basically the same as stated for bishops or preachers.  The life of the deacon was to be orderly and reflect well on God.  I believe that we can take this even further and say that the lives of all Christians should be this way.  

Verse thirteen continues, For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.  God said that those who faithfully lived up to the requirements of being a deacon would purchase for themselves a good degree, or reputation in the world I believe, since we cannot buy salvation or even heavenly rewards by our own ability, but can only do so by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and living under the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit.