Bethlen Évkönyv, 1993-1996 (Ligonier)

Dr. Eva M. Fabian: Qualifications, conflicts, compensations

about the first elders in Exodus 18. Leadership imposed more duties on Moses than he could cope with. His father-in-law advised him to “look for able men among all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain” (another list of qualifications in Exodus 18:21!). Then elders took office the first time in the history of our salvation. It is not a small honor to be a part of an approximately four thousand years of sacred tradition.

Please remember also that the book of Revelation abounds in references to the twenty-four elders standing in heaven around the throne of God (Revelation 4:4, 10; 5:5-14; 7:11, 13; 11:1; 14:3; 19:4). How did they get to that place of honor? Possibly by giving evidence of fulfilling the divine qualifications solely by His grace, by faith, and by the guidance of the scriptures. Moreover, by serving Him faithfully in the visible church of Jesus Christ. Then, God invited them to stand around His throne and sing, Soli Deo Gloria! So we can justly say that the office itself is a compensation, an honor, and a reward.

Although we also know that being an elder is not a paying job, elders still may receive some kind of compensation they could do well without. Misunderstanding, constant and unjust criticism, character bashing, slander are some of the denominations their salary is cashed out. In this context, we should remember that as servants of Jesus Christ, we cannot and should not expect better treatment than our Master and Lord received. For leaving His glory, for becoming one of us, for loving, serving, healing us, He received the cross. He knows exactly how we feel and suffers with us. Therefore we should rather probe into the secret of His endurance, instead of complaining. How was Jesus Christ able to bear the cross and all the infathomable suffering our salvation imposed on Him?

We find His secret in Hebrews 12:2: “Jesus... for the sake of the joy that was set before him, endured the cross. ” The anticipation of the reward, the joy that the Father set before Him made Jesus able to endure the inferno of the cross.

Just one chapter earlier, in Hebrews 11:26, we read something similar about Moses. “He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt for he was looking ahead to the reward. ”

144