Friday, June 17, 2005
A MATTER OF SERVING
From: Life lessons for Bible People
"Brothers choose seven men from among you who are known to be filled of the Spirit and wisdom." (Acts 6:3)
As early church grew, so did its administrative work. One particular ministry that was requiring more and more oversight from the apostles was the care of widows in the church. The twelve disciples realized that in devoting too much of their energy to the physical needs of their church, they were neglecting its spiritual needs. So they conferred and decided to delegate the feed-the-widows ministry to seven other qualified men.
The men selected had to meet exacting standards. It was stipulated that they be godly, wise men. Among those chosen was Parmenus, a man of whom we know very little. Various church traditions say that he was either martyred at Philippi during the reign of Trajan or that he became the bishop of Soli.
Assume for a moment that your church leaders decided to pick seven individuals to serve on a special ministry team. If the requirements for service were the same as those mentioned above -- being wise and filled with the Spirit -- do you think you would be nominated? Would your name even come up in the discussion?
Leadership in the church [or in any Christian religious community], is not a matter of getting a position and then serving; it is about serving, period. If you are letting God work in you and through you, others will eventually notice. Even if they don't, God will. And that's what ultimately matters. Those who yield to the will of God are useful to God.
"Brothers choose seven men from among you who are known to be filled of the Spirit and wisdom." (Acts 6:3)
As early church grew, so did its administrative work. One particular ministry that was requiring more and more oversight from the apostles was the care of widows in the church. The twelve disciples realized that in devoting too much of their energy to the physical needs of their church, they were neglecting its spiritual needs. So they conferred and decided to delegate the feed-the-widows ministry to seven other qualified men.
The men selected had to meet exacting standards. It was stipulated that they be godly, wise men. Among those chosen was Parmenus, a man of whom we know very little. Various church traditions say that he was either martyred at Philippi during the reign of Trajan or that he became the bishop of Soli.
Assume for a moment that your church leaders decided to pick seven individuals to serve on a special ministry team. If the requirements for service were the same as those mentioned above -- being wise and filled with the Spirit -- do you think you would be nominated? Would your name even come up in the discussion?
Leadership in the church [or in any Christian religious community], is not a matter of getting a position and then serving; it is about serving, period. If you are letting God work in you and through you, others will eventually notice. Even if they don't, God will. And that's what ultimately matters. Those who yield to the will of God are useful to God.
# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 9:19 PM 
