So the Twelve called a meeting of
all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the
word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who
are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them
this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and
teaching the word. Acts
6: 2-4 NIV
The
early church was growing in leaps and bounds. New believers were selling
their properties, pooling their money, taking care of the poor, feeding the
widows and more. It was waaay too much for the twelve apostles to keep up
with. So they called a church meeting and said, “Look, we don’t need to
be spending our time running a food program, we need to be focusing our energies
on prayer and teaching of the word. Let’s choose some Godly men to take over
this ministry to the widows.”
Everyone
liked the idea so they selected seven men, laid hands on them, and commissioned
them to run the food ministry to the widows. The apostles were then free
to use their primary giftings of prayer and teaching the word.
Was the food program beneath the apostles?
Absolutely
not. I imagine a little old lady cupping the face of Peter and in a
quivering voice say, “Thank you. thank you.. I didn’t know where my next meal
was coming from.” Then a playful Peter kisses her on the cheek and calls
out, “Hey Matthais, give this woman an extra slice of babka!” *
The
apostles were overjoyed to let God’s love flow from them to the widows.
But as the food distribution grew larger and larger it began to eat away at
their time; time that was better spent in prayer and teaching. Better
spent, not because it was more important, but because it was where their
strengths and giftings lay. They could best serve God’s purposes using
their unique gifts.
Was the ministry to the widows secondary?
Absolutely
not. Consider how carefully and prayerfully seven men were
selected. They had to be well respected, full of the Holy Spirit, and
wise. Sounds like a tall order just to serve food, right? But it
was more than serving up food, it was serving up God’s love to the poor and
needy. “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one
command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Gal. 5:14 NIV
Both
ministries were important; both required God’s Spirit, wisdom, and
integrity. The issue for the
apostles is where they could best serve the church, and the conclusion was to
serve in the area where they were most gifted. That’s where they
should spend their primary time and energies. The whole church agreed on
this and it freed the apostles to do what they did best.
As I
reflected on this passage this morning, I asked God, “What are my
giftings? Where is my time best spent.?” To which He replied, “Relating,
teaching, coaching, writing, praying, and leading.” I wrote these words
on my blackboard. They will serve as a guide for how I order my days, how
I make decisions, and how I spend my time.
What about you?
- What are your gifts?
- Where is your time best spent?
- How does your life live in concert with your unique giftings?
- What keeps you from operating in your gifts?
Leave me
a comment, I'd love to hear your response. Kinsey@listeningtoabba.com
Use this post as a devotional in your small group.
*Babka is a a loaf-shaped coffee cake made with sweet yeast dough to which raisins, chocolate, or nuts may be added. Yum. Okay, I confess I had to google “Jewish desserts” to come up with that. Are you impressed?
