Verse: Acts 6:1-7
1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Devotion:
Have you ever been part of an organization that was expanding and experienced growing pains as it did? Perhaps you were in a leadership role, and played an integral part in that process. Whether you’ve been a manager at work, a coach of a sports team, or even a parent in your household, effective leadership includes delegating responsibilities so that tasks can be accomplished more efficiently. Be it dividing up the parts of a larger project, empowering assistants to oversee certain aspects of practice, or assigning chores around the house, no one person (or group of 12) can accomplish as much on their own as they can with proper support.
That’s exactly what we’re seeing here in the early part of Acts 6. As Christianity expands and more are brought into the fold, it becomes unrealistic for the apostles to maintain oversight of all the day-to-day goings on. Not because it’s in any way “beneath” them to do so, but because they have their own specific responsibilities, the preaching and teaching of the word of God. So they began to delegate some of the other tasks, knowing that it was more important that those tasks be accomplished than that they themselves be the ones to accomplish them.
The same model still exists in today’s churches, or at least it should. There are many reasons why churches fail, but one surefire recipe for failure is a lack of people willing to step up and support the leadership, OR leadership that isn’t willing to accept such support when it is offered. Even in a small church, it’s just not sustainable for the pastor and their family to take on every role necessary for the church to survive.
It’s important to note as well, that the apostles didn’t consider those offering support to be less than themselves, or inferior in any way. They asked for supporters “of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom”, just like they themselves were. This indicates the importance they placed on the responsibilities being delegated. Likewise, the church today needs similar supporters, so that those who are called to preach and teach can apply their full focus to that calling.
Prayer:
God, help me to be a person of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, so that I may support my local church and play an active role in growing your kingdom. Thank you for those called to preach and teach, and I ask that you give them wisdom in knowing when to hand off some of their responsibilities. Amen.
Author: Dave MacDonald
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