"Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution." (Acts 6:1) You would think that a church that is growing by great numbers, wouldn't have any problems. But from our text, we see that the early church did have problems. This one that we know of, was the neglect of the widows of the Jewish people (*"called the Hellenistic Jews, who were born of Jewish parentage outside of Palestine, who spoke the Greek language, and used the Septuagint in their synagogues.") in the daily provision of food for widows, and probably orphans. The Apostles could not leave the work of preaching the Gospel, to take care of this need. So they summoned the Congregation (among them, those who were probably engaged in this complaint) and told them to select seven men, of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, and of wisdom, and put them in charge of this task. (6:3) This is a testimony of how things should be done in our Lord's church. I believe that for every need, there is a person or persons, that have the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to meet those needs. This is the awesome task of the elder-ship of the church. To take care of God's people, by equipping God's people, to minister to the needs that exist, in the body of Christ. To build a functioning church, is the establishing of a free church. Free from the hindrances of spreading the Gospel. (GP)
Photo by imagerymajestic. Published on 22 November 2012
www.freedigitalphotos.net
* New Testament History - Acts By Gareth L. Reese College Press, Joplin Missouri
