ON RULE
I TIMOTHY
5 : 17.
I AGREE that, as a rule, gatherings get on where there is one who cares for souls. I have long noticed it; and, while in a small gathering, care one for another may be easy and simple, I have always held it to be a bad sign if time and increase of numbers did not develop the care of souls in persons whom love led to devote themselves more or less to it.
It may be in one aspect mutual or
general, as Hebrews12 : 12-15; or more direct and positive, as 1 Thessalonians
5 : 12-14, where, indeed, we have both. Hebrews 13: 17 (v. 7, they are
deceased). In none of these cases are they viewed as official. It is, moreover,
the contrary to official in 1 Corinthians 16: 15. They are those who" take
the lead" (1 Thess. 5 : 12) and" leading men" a word used of
Judas and Silas in Acts 15 : 22.
In 1 Corinthians 16 they have
"addicted themselves," as indeed we have no trace of elders at
Corinth; the Lord, doubtless, allowing it that we might have the internal
state, and care, and duty, of an assembly in Scripture itself. These
care-takers were not, as is truly said, the gift of teachers. This case is
distinguished in 1 Timothy 5 : 17. But it was desirable, not that they should
be teachers as a gift (pastor and teacher are united under one head in Ephesians
4), but that they should be " apt to teach," 1 Tim. 3 : 2; able to
carry the word with them in their episcopal ministrations, and use it-shepherd
and feed, not merely superintend; though they might usefully do the latter
alone according to 1 Timothy 5 : 17.
These have been the passages which
have guided students of Scripture as to that by which God meets the need of
saints when public order and official authority are lost to the church, with
general warnings in Old and New Testament as to the care of the beloved sheep
of Christ. Still the promise remains, that where two or three are gathered
together to Christ's name, He is there in the midst of them.
But I would draw your attention to
one of these passages and this is my object in these lines-a leading one on the
point. The household of Stephanas had" addicted themselves to the ministry
of the saints." In the heart of him who so labours, when rightly done and
efficient, it is done in the spirit of service, not of rule. Love works: they
addict themselves; as Paul, free from all, became the servant of all for
Christ’s sake. There is a gift of rule, but love delights to serve. In this
verse, which is a specially guiding one, service (diakonia) is that to which
they addict themselves. He who thus addicts himself in love, will assuredly
find himself blessed in it, though patience may be exercised and must have its
perfect work.
Collected Writings of J. N. Darby Vol. 2 Page 321