By A. N. Groves (England)
“God hath set in the church” and appointed for all service and ministry “helps” as well as “governments,” 1Cor.12.28. To the latter belong the guidance of the work in hand, like the pilot or the steersman of a ship, as the Greek word signifies. But those to whom this gift is entrusted need others as their helpers, and this is what is implied in the word “helps.”
Guides and helpers are thus connected together, the latter depending “in the Lord” on the former. Let us not be afraid of dependence on one another in the Lord, for independence is often little better than self-will.
We find illustrations of this in Scripture histories. Moses had as his servant the young man Joshua, who, as his helper, filled his appointed place. Elijah had his Elisha, who poured water on his hands, and was thus being trained to occupy his place when God should take him away. Paul and Barnabas had John Mark “to their minister” when they were sent on their great missionary tour, Acts 13.5; he went with them as a helper, not taking independent ground, but following those whom the Holy Spirit sent out. Thus, afterwards Paul found Timothy, and knowing that he was “well reported of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium,” he would have him “to go forth with him.” Timothy had no separate call; he was to be a helper, and as such he went, as a son with a father, as a servant with a master, and therein fulfilled his mission. In the same way originally Paul seems to have gone after him to Tarsus and brought him to Antioch. But the helper soon outstepped the leader during the ten years, more or less, they were together, so that “Barnabas and Saul” of Acts 13.2 became very soon “Paul and Barnabas” of ch.13.43, and always afterwards.
The faithful helper becomes in time the faithful leader. Joshua takes the place of Moses; Elisha that of Elijah; Timothy that of Paul. The relative position of each must not be lost sight of. The one is directly under the guidance of God and in direct dependence on Him; the other is in measure under the guidance of the one who leads, and dependent on him. Learning thus in the place of service, the helper may be gradually guided of God into the place of leadership.
This we regard as the appointment of God for training His servants, the younger by the elder, the inexperienced by the experienced; and we would press the consideration of it on all who are interested in the raising up of faithful men for service in the church and in the world. Forgetfulness of the distinction here indicated has led many a youthful godly servant of the Lord, who would have made a most efficient Timothy, to withdraw from the work altogether, because he was not fitted to take at once the higher place of following God alone. It was not thus Paul trained his helpers to become good soldiers and in time to take an independent place of service for God.
There is a human as well as a divine side in all these questions, which can
never be forgotten without incalculable loss. In some, alas! the human element
swallows up the divine, and the result is something very different from the
Scriptural examples we have considered; namely, a continued servile dependence
on man, with no thought of ever reaching up to God alone. On the other hand, the
human element is often set aside and overridden by a profession of a divine
independence that results in pride and self will.
Mutual subjection to one another, of the younger to the elder, there is to be,
and that “in the fear of Christ;” and all that disregard it are violating the
headship of Christ and the claims of the body of which we are members.
Let us therefore bid good speed to those who take the higher place when we see
their call of God, and when they have made proof of their ministry; but let us,
none the less, bid good speed to those who are prepared as yet only for the
humbler sphere of going to work as helpers to those on whom for the present they
are content to lean, and by them to be guided. It is thus true-hearted men of
God will be trained up for the Master's service; and we shall find Joshuas,
Elishas, and Timothys not wanting when the call comes, and the work demands
them.
Many make a bold commencement, who come to grief in the end; and many make a
humble commencement in ostensible subjection to man, who in the end became
giants in faith and mighty in service.
Some degree of avowed dependence on man is far safer than unreal dependence on God; to be real the latter must grow in circumstances to call it forth. Practical lessons alone teach it. No Bible theory, however true, will do it.
God keep us from discouraging the feeble, knowing that covenant mercy can make the “feeble,” if only true, “like David,” Zech.12.18.