November 18, Acts 6
Escalating persecution did not slow the rapid growth of the church. The outside pressure seemed to amplify the progress. But a situation developed from within that threatened to divide the group and distract the leaders from their God-appointed task.
Tensions are inevitable in a group of imperfect people. Someone will offend someone else. It doesn’t matter if the offense was intentional or not. Cultural and language diversity (which should bring vitality and expansion opportunities to the group) can intensify the problems.
Feeding their widows was an appropriate part of the church’s ministry. Poor widows were vulnerable to abuse in the ancient world, and God had taught the Jews to care for them. The Greek-speaking Jews complained that their widows were being neglected. Would internal conflict hinder the progress of the movement? The apostles avoided that possibility with a solution that worked. Their approach is a good pattern to follow when we deal with conflict.
The apostles addressed the problem instead of ignoring it. Avoidance is the number one tactic among peace-loving people when conflict arises. We’d rather not deal with it. Maybe it will go away if we don’t pay it any attention. But ignored problems usually get worse instead of better.
The apostles didn’t attack the complaining people; they attacked the problem they were talking about. Addressing the problem is more efficient than getting involved in personal conflict.
The apostles’ plan of action was consistent with established priorities. Preaching the word of God was their task. Delivering groceries to needy widows would take time away from their real job. They were not “too good” to do benevolence work, nor were they idle. They were devoted to preaching the word and prayer. A division of labor was the most effective way to solve the problem. The modern church too often defines all church activity as “preachers’ work” and gives the ministry of the church to paid staff. This strategy compromises the priority of preaching, and hinders the growth of the church.
The apostles appointed the right people for the job. They described the people needed, and told the church to find men who met the qualifications. It’s no coincidence that men with Greek names were selected to deal with a problem in the Greek-speaking segment of the church. Problems are solved by getting the right person, not just anybody, to serve in ministry. The wrong person will only create more problems.
The apostles prayed for the selected helpers and gave them the authority to complete their assignment. The apostles wanted to grow the church, not control the people. They didn’t micro-manage their helpers. They bathed the ministry in prayer. They wanted God’s will done, not their personal agenda.
Did it work? The word continued to spread. The number of disciples multiplied. Even some Jewish priests who had opposed Jesus became disciples. The problem turned out to be a blessing because the apostles handled it well. When we imitate their strategy, we should get similar results.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament,
Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—November 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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