The Deacon's Handbook

Chapter 2
Servanthood Is a Fact of Life

Now that we have established what a deacon is and what he’s responsible for, this chapter concerns itself with the origins of the ministry itself. In approaching the subject of the deaconry in the modern church, the normal starting point would be Acts chapter 6. While these passages will be explored, it is essential to first have a true understanding of what a deacon is.

Why do we have deacons? What is the nature of a deacon? How did the idea of a deacon come to be? What were the circumstances that originated this occupation? What does this ministry even have to do with our human existence? To answer these queries, you must go back to the beginning, which is the book of Genesis. We examine these passages because it’s not only the beginning of humanity but the beginning of servanthood as well. Let us consider the following:

1. Because of Adam’s sin, he was separated from God forever. When Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, they enjoyed unconditional fellowship with God. They lived in harmony with Him, the earth, and all creation upon it. But after Adam and Eve sinned against God by eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, man lost his fellowship and companionship with God. So it is no wonder that the apostle Paul later wrote in the New Testament, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It reflects humanity’s continually lost condition and broken relationship with God.

2. Hard labor (work) was part of God’s punishment of Adam. As seen in chapter 1 of Genesis, God basically was the only one doing the labor. He created the heavens, earth, and animals. And His greatest creation, humanity, was set in His own image (Genesis 1:26). He then rested on the seventh day. In chapter 2, Adam’s contributions, at that point, were naming the creatures and dressing and keeping the Garden of Eden.

He worked, but there was joy in the work. But in chapter 3, all of that changed. Now, as the result of the previously mentioned sin against God, Adam was resigned to hard labor to keep the land. Before, God had made it grow and flourish. Adam had a new and difficult responsibility, all because he and Eve disobeyed God.

3. Work means you are a servant. If you have to work, then you owe somebody something. Whether it’s the government, a company, or your landlord, it means you are subject to that particular person or entity. In other words, you are, in effect, a servant. We therefore arrive at the conclusion that servanthood is a fact of life.

4. In the eyes of God, everybody is a servant. To God, we are all servants because, as descendants from Adam and Eve, every man, woman, boy, and girl was born under their sin. So whether we accept it or not, we are all servants to the Most High God. And that means we have to work and live for Him, or else.

5. Jesus is the ultimate servant. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus is the greatest example of the deaconry because He performed the “work,” or the debt owed to God. It is something that no mortal man could ever do. He paid the price for Adam’s sin once and for all, so all the “work” we have to do now to enter His kingdom is to accept Him.

6. The meaning of deacon is servant. The very word deacon means in Greek diakonos, which means “servant.” Like the pastors of a church, deacons are called to a higher level of service as both are ultimately responsible to God as they watch over the flock, or God’s people, the church.

As we consider the ministry of the deacon, or living the life God intends for us, it behooves us to understand what it means. Understanding these points will give each the proper attitude for this life and ministry as it must be approached with humility. If we are prideful, arrogant, and selfish, we will find it extremely difficult to carry out our duties or even maintain a standard of holiness. While humility is important, it is not the goal for a deacon or a child of God to go through life with his or her head bowed every day. The upcoming chapters will hopefully show another side of the deaconry, and motivate the deacon to adopt that way of thinking, in addition to humility. This is part of developing a code.