Read it: Acts 6:1-7
Live it:
Wow! The early church sounds like us today! Division, favoritism, and anger were causing the church to be divided. The ministry of the preaching and teaching of Jesus’s commands stalled because of distractions from the followers who were worried about real life issues. The church ran into real life walls, not from the outside but from the inside.
The church today is no different. Men and women of God called to preach, teach, and lead the church into God’s presence are distracted with real life issues: personality conflicts, politics inside and outside the church, marriage issues, family problems, and poverty. None of these issues are evil or wrong. But the call is to preach and teach the Gospel, to win the lost, and to train up disciples! So what is the solution?
We are! We are the solution that God is looking for! God and his leadership are looking for godly people who can take up part of the load and lift the church to new heights. The early church put in place seven men full of the Holy Spirit and able to accomplish the work. This transfers into the modern terminology of godly character and talent-driven work. We are looking for a few godly people who have some talents to do the work of deaconing.
Now, before we go too far, let’s understand that Act 6 deacons are not the modern day office of deacons. In Acts 6, deacons were true servants; they basically were servants to the widows, making sure the ladies were cared for as was their responsibility. Their job was to make sure both Jerusalem born and non-Jerusalem born widows were able to live as the culture demanded. Today’s office of deacon follows closely the model of corporate America, with oversight of the vision, values, and financial accountability of the body.
I want to be a servant for God. But, servants don’t complain when they are asked to do something. Servants are not worried about anything but serving. Along with me, can you say whatever you want God? Even if that means taking down the furniture? Or, teaching a class for children’s church? Or, just sitting with saints who have dementia and making sure they are taken care of?
God, turn me into a servant, even if it costs me everything because YOU are everything!
Carl