“Dollars & Deacons”

Saturday, June 23, 2012

     According to 1 Timothy 3:12, if the candidate recently went through a bankruptcy (and not paid his bills, walked away from a home, etc.) due to mismanagement of his finances, does he fall under the words "beyond reproach"?

Sincerely,
Fairly Frugal

Dear Fairly Frugal,

1 Tim 3:8-12 discusses the qualifications for a deacon.  Deacons are required to be men of exemplary character.  Your question deals with the relationship between a deacon and money.  The Bible says that deacons must not be greedy for dishonest gain (1 Tim 3:8).  Sometimes, when someone doesn’t pay their bills, it is because of a desire to cheat people or to avoid paying what they owe.  If that is the case, the man is definitely not qualified to be a deacon.

However, as we all know in these difficult economic times, sometimes people are unable to pay their bills, but it isn’t for lack of trying.  When someone is unable, but willing, to meet their financial obligations, the issue isn’t as clear-cut.  If the man in question is careless and frivolous with spending, he may very well be disqualified.  However, if he is a good man that has simply fallen upon hard economic times, it wouldn’t necessarily disqualify him from becoming a deacon.

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