Daily Thoughts from Acts: Sharing Leadership (Acts 6:1-6)

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.  (Acts 6:1-6 ESV)

What is so interesting about this passage is that despite the loving fellowship in this first church and the direct leadership of the apostles, problems still arose.  Wherever there are people, believers included, there will be conflict.  In this case there was a perception that the Jews who had been raised outside of Israel were being discriminated against by those raised in Israel in regards to widow support.  This was the same kind of animosity we might have toward immigrants in our own culture, even those who are Christians.  They’re different than us and we might suppose they are less cultured than us.

The apostles wisely and humbly make it clear that their gifting and responsibility before God is to focus on prayer and teaching.  They choose to have the body elect seven men of proven character from among those raised outside Israel to lead this duty of dispensing help.  The character qualities are that they must be characterized by faith and by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  The apostles then publicly invest full authority in those whom the people choose, a very important step in leadership.  The laying on of hands symbolizes that God approves of these new leaders and that the authority of the apostles is backing them.

Notice that the apostles did not say that serving tables was too demeaning for leaders of their stature, nor that teaching the Word of God was more important than serving tables.  What they said, in essence, was that it wasn’t right for them, given their abilities and responsibilities, to neglect their calling in order to do something for which the Spirit has more adequately gifted others and called them to do.  Leaders must function according to their divine gifting and constantly look for others to put in leadership roles suited to their gifting from God.

When you function according to your gifting four things happen:

1. You draw from the deepest passion of your soul, that which motivates you the most powerfully and from which you feel the most joy and power, a passion that is contagious and powerfully affects those around you in ways you cannot fathom.
2. You walk in the closest possible step with the Spirit who gave you this gifting and designed you for this service, and so you are most tuned to hear His voice and express His power.
3. You meet the deepest needs of those to whom you are ministering, whether believers or unbelievers, and then see the most dramatic spiritual change.
4. You bring out the leadership qualities in others and readily share your authority with them to have the maximum impact to reach the world as Christ commanded us.

The apostles invested in these seven men chosen to lead the ministry to widows.  Two of these leaders will show themselves capable of even more powerful ministry to come.  Investing in new leaders is crucial to church health and the advance of the gospel.  Delegating power is not losing power but multiplying it.

John Maxwell notes that there are five ways to fail at delegation: (1) provide no accountabiity, (2) dump instead of delegate, (3), delegate without proper training, (4) inadequately resource, and (5) choose the wrong person for the task.