Commentaries:
If God places us within an office in the church—as an elder or a deacon—it must be looked upon as a blessing that is a responsibility, not a reward! It is given for God's purposes. Paul even had his office as apostle because it was given to him. It is implied that all the powers to perform it were also given. He used them to lay the foundation.
Everybody else is the same way. The important thing is that each one of us must use our gifts to build. Paul says, "Be careful how you build." The foundation that was laid is Jesus Christ. When we begin to expand on it, it consists of the apostles and the prophets as well—the things that they wrote and the examples that they set. Everybody is to build on the same foundation! God gives everybody the gifts to enable them to do so.
To some, God gives gifts to be apostles; to others, He gives gifts to be an evangelist, pastor, teacher, or whatever. They are given, though, and every time God gives an office, He gives all that is needed for the person to fulfill that office—including overcoming sin.
The Bible consistently teaches that an office is not a place from which to exercise power, but a position from which to exercise service. The authority is certainly there, since God gives it. He always gives the authority to go with the office, but having it means that the elder or deacon must also have the right perspective on how to use the office God has given him. The office is given, not earned.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Grace Upon Grace
Related Topics: Apostle
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Apostle, Function of
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Blessing
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Building Analogy
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Building Metaphor
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Building on a Foundation
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Deacons
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Deacons, Responsibility of
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Elder
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Elder, Function of
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Evangelist
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Evangelist, Function of
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Foundation as Metaphor
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Foundation, Building on a
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Gifts
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Gifts Edify Church
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Gifts of God
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Grace
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Minister
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Ministry
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Ministry, Function of
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Pastor
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Pastor's Responsibility
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Responsibility
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Responsibility, Sense of
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Servant
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Servant Attitude
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Service
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Serving Others
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Spiritual Gifts
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Spiritual Gifts, Abuse of
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Spiritual Gifts, Neglect of
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Teachers, Role of
This passage begins by seeming to say that God sends only the ministry to labor in His behalf. However, as Paul proceeds, the context reaches out to embrace all the called of God by admonishing us to take heed how we build the Temple, the church of God. I Corinthians 12 leaves no doubt that we are all members of the Body of Christ, and it is the Body of Christ that is sent forth to witness for God in the world. The Body of Jesus Christ is the Israel of God in this New Testament period (Galatians 6:16).
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Elements of Motivation (Part Five): Who We Are
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing 1 Corinthians 3:10:
Amos 7:7-9
Matthew 25:14-30
