1 Timothy 3:13 Good service

1 Timothy 3:13  Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

In 1 Timothy 3:8-13 Paul talks about deacons and the required qualifications. At the conclusion of these he adds (verse 13) that Those who have served well gain two things - an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. There are two obvious advantages in serving as a deacon then, and by extension serving the church in any capacity. First, there is the excellent standing it gives. The idea seems to be that of a firm place to stand. Secondly, there is great assurance, boldness or confidence. As we serve the Lord we grow in assurance then  - more firm, more confident. This is not the chief aim of appointing someone as a deacon or in some other capacity of service but as we do the work so assurance will increase. Assurance, of course, has many sources but getting on with doing the work in hand for God's glory is an unspectacular but important source not to be overlooked. This assurance will not come merely from having a title - deacon or minister or whatever. It will only come if a person does the work.