By Rick Liggin
Luke records an occasion when Jesus was invited to eat a meal in the home of a leading Pharisee (Lk. 14:1ff). While at this feast, Jesus noted that the invited guests were picking out the places of honor and distinction at the table; they were concerned about getting a position that would make them look good. Because of what He saw, the Lord told this parable: “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (17:8-11).
It seems to me that this parable teaches us something about honorable men and positions of honor. Because the place of honor is for an honorable man, the man who seeks to sit in that place purely for the sake of honor proves by his seeking that he is not an honorable man. This kind of man ultimately will be brought low by the Lord. The point is: a truly honorable man is never a position seeker; he is never the kind of man who looks for the place of honor purely for honor’s sake. Now consider this application: the work of an elder is just that—a work (1 Tim. 3:1). It is not a “position” or “office” that is held over members of a local church, but rather it is a work of service that is to be performed “among” the members (1 Thess. 5:121).
Now it is true that the work of elders is a “good work” and that only men of proven character may be appointed to this work (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9). And it is likewise true that those who work hard in functioning as elders are “worthy of double honor” (1 Tim. 5:17). But these facts do not imply that the function of a bishop is to be viewed by us simply as a position of honor held by certain men. One who seeks the “position” of an elder because it is a place of honor is attempting to exalt himself. Such a person is setting himself up only to be humbled by the Lord.
As a Christian and as a preacher of the gospel of Christ, I am vitally concerned about helping men to develop themselves so that they can be scripturally appointed as bishops in the local church. The church of the Lord is in desperate need of good leadership, and in my judgment, one of the greatest challenges for the future is developing men of quality character who can serve as elders. This church needs to be looking to the future to see how we can meet this challenge. Who will be the elders of this church in the next generation?
I for one certainly want to encourage men to develop the desire to serve the church in this good work. But if your desire to be an elder is not because you desire a good work, then maybe you need to quit thinking about be-coming an elder. The Lord’s church does not need elders who only sit in a place of honor. It needs men who will work hard at serving and supplying the needs of the flock. If you have enough vision for the future to work at developing yourself into that kind of a man, then God will exalt you in due time.
This bulletin is being published for the purpose of encouraging a further study of the Word of God. Editor – Josh Liggin
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