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were to be 〃men of honest report； full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom。〃 These
men were to take their position unitedly on the side of right and to
maintain it with firmness and decision。 Thus they would have a uniting
influence upon the entire flock。
Later in the history of the early church； when in various parts of the world
many groups of believers had been formed into churches； the organization of
the church was further
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perfected； so that order and harmonious action might be maintained。 Every
member was exhorted to act well his part。 Each was to make a wise use of the
talents entrusted to him。 Some were endowed by the Holy Spirit with special
gifts 〃first apostles； secondarily prophets； thirdly teachers； after that
miracles； then gifts of healings； helps； governments； diversities of
tongues。〃 1 Corinthians 12：28。 But all these classes of workers were to
labor in harmony。
〃There are diversities of gifts； but the same Spirit。 And there are
differences of administrations； but the same Lord。 And there are diversities
of operations； but it is the same God which worketh all in all。 But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal。 For to
one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom； to another the word of
knowledge by the same Spirit； to another faith by the same Spirit； to
another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit； to another the working of
miracles； to another prophecy； to another discerning of spirits； to another
divers kinds of tongues； to another the interpretation of tongues： but all
these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit； dividing to every man
severally as He will。 For as the body is one； and hath many members； and all
the members of that one body； being many； are one body： so also is Christ。〃
1 Corinthians 12：4…12。
Solemn are the responsibilities resting upon those who are called to act as
leaders in the church of God on earth。 In the days of the theocracy； when
Moses was endeavoring to carry alone burdens so heavy that he would soon
have
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worn away under them； he was counseled by Jethro to plan for a wise
distribution of responsibilities。 〃Be thou for the people to Godward；〃
Jethro advised； 〃that thou mayest bring the causes unto God： and thou shalt
teach them ordinances and laws； and shalt show them the way wherein they
must walk； and the work that they must do。〃 Jethro further advised that men
be appointed to act as 〃rulers of thousands； and rulers of hundreds； rulers
of fifties； and rulers of tens。〃 These were to be 〃able men； such as fear
God； men of truth； hating covetousness。〃 They were to 〃judge the people at
all seasons；〃 thus relieving Moses of the wearing responsibility of giving
consideration to many minor matters that could be dealt with wisely by
consecrated helpers。
The time and strength of those who in the providence of God have been placed
in leading positions of responsibility in the church； should be spent in
dealing with the weightier matters demanding special wisdom and largeness of
heart。 It is not in the order of God that such men should be appealed to for
the adjustment of minor matters that others are well qualified to handle。
〃Every great matter they shall bring unto thee；〃 Jethro proposed to Moses；
〃but every small matter they shall judge： so shall it be easier for thyself；
and they shall bear the burden with thee。 If thou shalt do this thing； and
God command thee so； then thou shalt be able to endure； and all this people
shall also go to their place in peace。〃
In harmony with this plan； 〃Moses chose able men out of all Israel； and made
them heads over the people； rulers of thousands； rulers of hundreds； rulers
of fifties； and rulers
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of tens。 And they judged the people at all seasons： the hard causes they
brought unto Moses； but every small matter they judged themselves。〃 Exodus
18：19…26。
Later； when choosing seventy elders to share with him the responsibilities
of leadership； Moses was careful to select； as his helpers； men possessing
dignity； sound judgment； and experience。 In his charge to these elders at
the time of their ordination； he outlined some of the qualifications that
fit a man to be a wise ruler in the church。 〃Hear the causes between your
brethren；〃 said Moses； 〃and judge righteously between every man and his
brother； and the stranger that is with him。 Ye shall not respect persons in
judgment； but ye shall hear the small as well as the great； ye shall not be
afraid of the face of man； for the judgment is God's。〃 Deuteronomy 1：16； 17。
King David； toward the close of his reign； delivered a solemn charge to
those bearing the burden of the work of God in his day。 Summoning to
Jerusalem 〃all the princes of Israel； the princes of the tribes； and the
captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course； and the
captains over the thousands； and captains over the hundreds； and the
stewards over all the substance and possession of the king； and of his sons；
with the officers； and with the mighty men； and with all the valiant men；〃
the aged king solemnly charged them； 〃in the sight of all Israel the
congregation of the Lord； and in the audience of our God；〃 to 〃keep and seek
for all the commandments of the Lord your God。〃 I Chronicles 28：1； 8。
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To Solomon； as one called to occupy a position of leading responsibility；
David gave a special charge： 〃Thou； Solomon my son； know thou the God of thy
father； and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind： for the
Lord searcheth all hearts； and understandeth all the imaginations of the
thoughts： if thou seek Him； He will be found of thee； but if thou forsake
Him； He will cast thee off forever。 Take heed now； for the Lord hath chosen
thee： 。 。 。 be strong。〃 I Chronicles 28：9； 10。
The same principles of piety and justice that were to guide the rulers among
God's people in the time of Moses and of David； were also to be followed by
those given the oversight of the newly organized church of God in the gospel
dispensation。 In the work of setting things in order in all the churches；
and ordaining suitable men to act as officers； the apostles held to the high
standards of leadership outlined in the Old Testament Scriptures。 They
maintained that he who is called to stand in a position of leading
responsibility in the church 〃must be blameless； as the steward of God； not
self…willed； not soon angry； not given to wine； no striker； not given to
filthy lucre； but a lover of hospitality； a lover of good men； sober； just；
holy； temperate； holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught； that
he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the
gainsayers。〃 Titus 1：7…9。
The order that was maintained in the early Christian church made it possible
for them to move forward solidly as a well…disciplined army clad with the
armor of God。 The
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companies of believers； though scattered over a large territory； were all
members of one body； all moved in concert and in harmony with one another。
When dissen