Choices and Priorities

Introduction

Satan despises good things especially when those good things occur in God’s kingdom. We know this statement to be true, but we find ourselves surprised and disappointed when sin rears its ugly head. But even God’s perfect plan includes using sinful human beings. God’s planning does not preclude human activity. In spite of using imperfect humans, God’s plans still unfold. But the fact that imperfect human beings are instruments used to carry out God’s plans then there will be times when our sinfulness will get in the way of God’s planning. That doesn’t mean that God’s plan is flawed. Quite the contrary, God’s kingship is such that even human beings cannot stop God’s ultimate plans and purposes. We may fail but God’s plans will not.

God’s perfect plan unfolded on Pentecost day in Acts 2. By Acts 4 external pressure through Jewish religious leaders are trying to stop the plan of God. And by Acts 5 there are internal pressures arising. For all the miracles, the prayers offered, and the believers increasing, Ananias and Sapphira lie to God and his people. And the pressure builds. Imperfect people are part of God’s plan. God’s church is not devoid of those who struggle with sin. And when we come to Acts 6, the internal sins take on a wider audience. Unlike chapter 5 when it is a husband and wife sinning, now a whole group of Christians are sinning against others. This is enough to cause God’s church to come to a standstill. It is enough to derail the progress which has been made. People may fail, but God’s plans do not. And in Acts 6 we learn that although problems exist, God’s plan includes using imperfect people to call others to a higher level of thinking so that God’s purposes are met.

Division

Acts 6 opens with a statement of hope. The number of disciples is increasing. The apostles have been beaten and the result is more teaching. More teaching results in more disciples. And God’s plan continues to unfold. But the hope of chapter 6 gives way to a statement of a problem. Old ways of thinking die hard. So many believers are in Jerusalem that some of the ones who cannot take care of their own needs are being helped. Widows are being given food each day. But the Greek speaking Jews were being overlooked. The Hebrew speaking Jewish women got their daily food. But the Greek speaking Jewish people did not. Why? Was it intentional? Was it an oversight? Was it simply a language problem?

While we do not want to be overly harsh about this issue because Luke does not tell us everything about this issue, the truth is that a language difference was resulting in a very real way a lack of support and compassion. We might speculate that the distribution of food was originally in the hands of those who spoke Aramaic and they couldn’t communicate well with those who were Greek speaking. So the language problem proved to be too great an obstacle for fairness to result. But the word “complained” seems to suggest something stronger. It may be too strong to suggest that prejudice is the root of the problem but it is certainly not unreasonable to suggest that whatever the root cause of the problem the community could not hold on to their claims of unity with such an obvious division. There is a lack of care for the Greek speaking widows.

Being left out resulted in complaints on their behalf. The word complained is a word which suggests that this was done privately rather than publicly. Perhaps several went to the apostles and let their displeasure be known. We don’t know. What we do know by the word that Luke uses, this complaining was not done in order to further promote dissension. Already there is dissension. Already differences are noticed and something as simple as daily food distribution is being affected by these differences. So the apostles gathered the group together and gave the solution. Choose seven men (and the names suggest that it was understood that these seven would be able to communicate with both Greeks and Aramaic Jews) to take care of this matter. These men would be responsible for the distribution of the food. It was agreed and with prayer and commissioning these seven men took over and the dissension was healed.

Application

Most often this text is used to demonstrate the early idea about deacons. And that is a fine use of this text. But it seems that Luke may be giving us some greater insight into the growth of the church. In one of those linguistic clues, Luke begins this section saying that the number of disciples was increasing in verse 1 and then in verse 7 he repeats himself that the number of disciples continued to increase. Sandwiched between these two statements is an issue that has the potential to derail God’s plans. So Luke tells us about how the early church solved this difficult issue.

Hungry people need to be fed. God’s word needs to be spread. Christian widows need a personal touch. Unbelievers need the touch of Jesus. Both are vital. Both are important. Ignore the widows and dissension will result. Ignore the unbeliever and the spreading of God’s word diminishes. This isn’t as much about deacons as it is about God taking care of his early church. It is a way of demonstrating to us that significant issues are solved with spiritual wisdom. And those who do the solving and the serving are to be spiritually minded. Both must be solved. And spiritual discernment is needed. So what does this mean?

First, it means that complaining is to be done with the intent of preserving the body. This complaining was done in order to stop a divisive practice but it was not done publicly but done with those who could solve the issue. There is a proper and improper way to complain. Some complain often and loudly. Some complain too much. There is a proper way to complain—privately with an eye to a solution. Whoever brought the complaint did not assume the worst about the transgression nor those who were involved. The complaint done privately did not demand that choices be made that would drive a wedge further between individuals. Motives were genuine and with genuine motives the result is healing not division.

Conversely, when the complaint came responsibility was quickly assumed that there was a problem and that a resolution was needed. No badmouthing about the complaint but a quick solution.

Feelings got hurt; stomachs weren’t getting filled; care was lacking. Responsibility for those failures was assumed and solutions were sought. The idea was that both sides knew that there was something bigger than them—God’s church and unity of the believers.

Second, prayer and preaching must never suffer because of administration. In Christendom as a whole, much of the administration of a local congregation is turned over to its leaders. Call these leaders deacons, elders, or a board their role is primarily the same—see to the administration of the congregation. But this is not God’s way. While some administration must be done, those whose gift is in teaching, preaching, and prayer must not be asked to diminish those gifts in order to administer serving ministries. While complaints do come, they are quickly passed on to those godly deacons to handle. Prayer and preaching must never suffer because of administration.

Third, serving others is a spiritual task requiring spiritual thinking and wisdom. Leaders of any ministry must demonstrate that he or she is seeking God’s direction and wisdom. A person who teaches must be in the word. A person who serves widows must be seeking God’s wisdom in his word. Responsibility in a ministry requires a spiritual attitude and as a congregation we must hold our servant leaders to a high expectation. Two of the seven listed not only serve widows but preach the gospel leading others to Christ. Serving others is not just menial work, it is a spiritual task requiring God’s wisdom and influence of the Spirit.

Satan despises good things in God’s kingdom. But if we pursue God’s ways, sin will not divide us. We will continue to speak God’s truth to unbelievers even as we serve the needs of each other.

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