WHEN THERE ARE NO ELDERS (6)

Ten Duties of Elders (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

          The elders are a group of men who meet certain qualifications given by the Holy Spirit (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9) who are appointed over a local congregation of the Lord’s people.  These men are known by three terms in the Greek language and six terms in the English language:  pastors, shepherds, bishops, overseers, elders, and presbyters.  These men occupy important positions of service, leadership and authority in the body of Christ.  On the last day, they will give an account unto Jesus Christ, the Bishop of our souls (1 Pet. 2:25) and the chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4).

          These men have many responsibilities assigned to them by the Lord Jesus Christ.  Let’s briefly look at “Ten Duties of Elders.”  We will examine five of them in this article.  In Acts 20, Paul arrives in Miletus which is not too far from Ephesus (v. 17).  He calls for the elders of the church to meet with him.  Upon their arrival, Paul gives what some refer to as his “Farewell Address” (Acts 20:18-35).  In Acts 20:28, Paul notes three obligations of elders.  The verse begins with these words:  “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock…”  The elders are to “take heed.”  These words literally mean “to hold the mind toward” (Strong, e-sword).  These men are to pay attention to themselves and to the flock.  They are to be cautious about their lives and the lives of the members of their congregation.  The work they are to do is serious.  It is easy to allow the burdens and the pleasures of the world to capture their attention.  Thus, it is important for elders to remind themselves to “take heed!”

          In this verse, the apostle also reminds these men that they are “overseers.”  “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers…”  Peter, who addressed elders in his first epistle, also notes this responsibility of elders with these words:  “…taking the oversight thereof…” (1 Pet. 5:2).  The idea is that of being a superintendent.  Thayer elaborates on the definition in this manner:  “a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly” (e-sword).  These men are to be acquainted with all aspects of the works of the church.  They cannot do all of the work, but they must make certain all areas of the work are being conducted in a proper manner.

          The last duty found in Acts 20:28 involves feeding the flock.  “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God…”  Again, Peter noted this same duty the elders to whom he wrote in 1 Peter 5:2.  “Feed the flock of God which is among you,” he instructed.  The word “feed” comes from a Greek work that can also be translated “shepherd.”  Both apostles told the elders to “shepherd the flock.”  This involves feeding the sheep and all of the other duties required of a shepherd:  leading, protecting, seeking the sheep when one is lost, and taking care of ailments.  Men who lived in the first century were well aware of the monumental task being assigned to them.  The art of shepherding is not understood or appreciated as well in the twenty-first century.

          Again, in 1 Timohty 3:1-7, we find a list of the qualifications for elders.  Being a good family man is an important part of these qualifications.  In 1 Timothy 3:4-5, Paul states:  “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?”)  In those final words, we see another duty of an elder.  He is to “take care of the church of God.”  What elders may not understand with regard to shepherding is compensated for in this responsibility.  Good fathers know how to take care of their households.  They provide.   They protect.  They discipline.  They watch.  They support.  They encourage.  They do all that is needed to make certain that the needs of their family are met.  In like manner, the elders make certain that the needs of their spiritual family is met as well.

          The fifth responsibility of elders that we will discuss is found in 1 Timothy 5:17.  “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in word and doctrine.”  Elders have the obligation of ruling the local church.  The word “rule” means “to stand before in rank.”  These men are to preside over the affairs of the church.  In what way do these men rule.  First, their rule involves making sure that the will of God is carried out in the congregation.  These men do not have the right to change, add to, take away, or manipulate the law of God.  What the Lord has authorized is their obligation to carry out.

There are other things, however, that have not been specifically authorized by God that must be determined for the church.  Where will the church meet?  At what time will the church assemble for worship?  How many Bible classes will be taught?  Who will preach for the local congregation?  Who will be the teachers in the church?  What missionaries will be supported?  In what works will the church engage?  These and many more matters must be determined by the elders.  These expedient matters have not been left up to each individual Christian.  The elders rule and the members are to obey.  The writer of Hebrews confirms this in Hebrews 13:17, when he commanded his readers, saying:  “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves…”  God is a God of order.  Leadership is one of the essentials of order in a church.  If elders are the kind of men they should be, that is, men who love for the church and have a deep concern for the flock, their decisions will not be dictatorial.  Their decisions will always be made with the well-being of the flock in mind.

          We have examined five responsibilities of elders in this article.  They are to take heed to themselves and the flock.  They are to oversee the affairs of the local congregation.  They are to feed, that is, shepherd the flock.  They are to “take care” of the members of the household of God.  And, they are rule well.  Just these five duties reveal the significance of the role of elders.  Elder is not just a title to be worn.  It is not a status symbol.  It is a “good work” (See 1 Tim. 3:1).  Those who are currently serving as elders need to realize the vital role they have assumed in the body of Christ.  Those who desire the office need to fully understand the nature of their role as overseers, shepherds, and rulers of the house of God.  This task is not for the weak, the unfaithful, or the faint of heart  It is for those who are men.  It is for those who have hearts full of faith for the Lord and for His kingdom.