Hi guys,

Verse 11 of 1 Timothy 3 today. Powerful lesson again, hope you enjoy the bible study.

Here you can find the transcript:
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1 Timothy 3:11, “In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.”

Interesting points:
1. In this verse, Paul builds on the previous verses concerning the essential characteristics of a deacon; here, he underlines that deacons, if married, must have spiritually likeminded spouses that both reflect the Faith well and who can serve alongside or support the deacon with wisdom, discernment and discretion.

2. As deacons are entrusted with properly addressing and handling practical needs in the church, they have great access to information concerning both the shame and brokenness many face in life. Consequently, a deacon’s wife must demonstrate the same good reputation/character, trustworthiness, and self-control as her spouse. She must definitely not be a gossip or she will undermine the confidence other believers have in the church’s leadership team (deacon couples work together as a team and count as part of the church’s leadership).

3. A third component to this verse is that the deacon’s wife should also have a firm understanding and commitment to the tenets of Christianity to better support her husband in making righteous decisions and fixing/repenting WHEN he falls short. She serves as her husband’s confidant, helper and closest cheerleader in walking righteously and growing ever closer to God.

Application.
Brothers, Proverbs 18:22 tells us, “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” Obviously, what is implied is that the man finds a “God-fearing wife” – someone that will keep him from temptation, from sinning and help pull him back onto the path of righteousness when he goes astray! Consequently, we men must choose our spouse carefully and with wisdom.

Having married, may we be good husbands that strengthen our wife’s faith, trust and love for God through our reflection of His love, grace and mercy both in our relationship with them and with others.

In such a way, both we and our spouses will be better poised to serve God as the team He intends for us to be, as deacons or any other means of serving that He should place on our hearts.