Another word that merges the two words “elders” and “deacons” into one and the same role is the word, “steward” used in Titus 1:7. A steward was a household manager who had the responsibility of managing and directing the servants, property, and finances of the owner/master. Skillful management of people and problems with people requires a working knowledge of the sensitivities, needs, reactions of people. A shepherd has the knowledge that people, like sheep, can hurt one another and themselves. He knows when the occasion calls for toughness or gentleness and can evaluate the health of sheep. When he doesn’t, he knows how to find the answers and will not quit until a solution is found. Such leadership involves clarifying our direction from God, correcting failures of the past, and affecting change in people. These men may give direction, vision, solutions, plans, and evaluations. One test that is used to determine his qualification is the proper management of his own household. If he does not manage his own house well, he cannot take care of God’s people (1 Tim. 3:4-5).
Another responsibility under this heading of household management is caring for the sick or those with physical needs. James writes, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14). This passage does tie physical sickness to the possibility of sin as the following verses show,
“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ” (verses 15-16)
While it is true that the shepherds are not the only ministers, they are not exempt from the responsibility of comforting in times of death and discouragement, strengthening the weak, counseling the engaged or the married, while praying for all.
A final thought associated with the oversight of spiritual shepherds that would not be complete without its inclusion here is the work of tutoring and helping in the good use of the gifts and skills of others for the building up of the body. The teaching of Ephesians 4:11-12 shows that the gifted men, among whom were “pastors,” were given for the people of God (1 Cor. 12:28-30) for the purpose of “perfecting the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” The purpose of an elder is to equip saints for the work. Their leadership and guidance are designed to help others develop for service. Ephesians 4:16 concludes, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supply, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Therefore, elders are not looking to take control of a congregation in the sense of an organization. Rather, he’s interested in the growth and development of every soul of the ekklesia as a working and living part that causes an increase in the body.
Again, we are clear about the life and work of these leaders but the context is not so easily recognized. It is usually assumed that elders fulfill this work within the context of a local church organization. Yet, this is an unproven assumption. Nothing in the texts support anything other than the oversight of individual souls.