Elders

Old—older—oldest.

Oldest in what? In a life in God, in the virtues of Christ. On the other hand, not the richest when it comes to the gift of oratory or the gifts of the Spirit. Those who are most experienced—not in defeat and failure, but in being victorious and making progress!

A multitude of years are of no help in themselves. Therefore an elder in truth and spirit can be a relatively young man, whereas a very old man can be a carnal babe.

In accordance with this, a brother who does not have the ministry of the word can be a solid, older brother full of content, someone who always makes the right decision concerning a matter and who always takes the right stand when there are difficulties. He can be a spiritual person filled with wisdom and virtue.

When it is like this, he doesn’t have to be ordained as an elder. He has grown up to be one, with the result that it is noticeable and others are aware of it.