Do something! (Acts 6:1-7)

 When the early church grows from 120 to 5000 people in a few weeks, it's a bit chaotic. Growth is positive but fast growth brings big changes, which can be challenging.

An outsider group notices that their widows are being overlooked in the distribution of food. The insider group is still cared for. You can only imagine the logistics. 

What would you do? Jump in and organize the food pantry? Ignore the problem? Or?

The church leaders (the apostles) ask the people to choose 7 men with good reputations to take over the job of administration. It's not that the work isn't worth doing. Clearly, it is necessary. But they realize they'd be diverted from their calling to preach and lead if they spent their time on church care. So they delegate the task with responsibility and authority.

The leaders who are chosen do their work well. The problem is resolved and the church grows.

That experience teaches us that everyone has a role to play in the Body of Christ. Everyone is needed and wanted. 

What's your part? Is it leading worship or speaking? Is it praying for those up front or those who need help? Taking care of children? Bringing food or supplies? Or ... 

Be courageous and find your place! Ask yourself 3 questions: 1) What am I good at (skill, talent, education, experience)? 2) What do I enjoy (what makes your heart sing)? 3) What need is not being met around me? (Is that something I could try?) 

As you try on various roles, success means you're probably headed in the right direction. Failure only means "Nope, that's not for me. Let's try something else!"

If you need help, delegate responsibility with authority and creativity. When you hand over a job, let the next person do it their way, using the gifts, character, experience, and skills they've acquired. It may seem a bit messy at first. But they'll probably come up with a better system than yours.

Read the story: Acts 6:1-7

In those days the number of believers was growing. The Greek Jews complained about the non-Greek Jews. They said that the widows of the Greek Jews were not being taken care of. They weren’t getting their fair share of food each day. 

So the 12 apostles gathered all the believers together. They said, “It wouldn’t be right for us to give up teaching God’s word. And we’d have to stop teaching to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven of your men. They must be known as men who are wise and full of the Holy Spirit. We will turn this important work over to them. Then we can give our attention to prayer and to teaching God’s word.”

This plan pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen. He was full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon and Parmenas were chosen too. The group also chose Nicolas from Antioch. He had accepted the Jewish faith. The group brought them to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on them.

So God’s word spread. The number of believers in Jerusalem grew quickly. Also, a large number of priests began to obey Jesus’ teachings.