daily java

Daily Java:

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” (Acts 6:1-4 NLT)

We were talking about committees once and someone said, show me in the Bible where there were committees. I was stymied and didn’t know what to say.

But then it came to me. Right here is the first committee. We usually use this for deacons, but when it came down to it, this was a special needs committee.

There has always been an argument between the conservative and the liberal factions of anything. And whichever one is dominant usually tries to run roughshod over the other. Even in the church this happens because, after all, the church is made up of people. And people act goofy.

In this passage, the conservative Jews, who always felt superior to others, were neglecting the Hellenistic Jewish widows. The Hellenistic Jews were those who were more modern and Grecian in their appearance and lifestyle. They were not necessarily liberal in theology, just in custom and manner. They just didn’t wear the special haircuts, or the long beards or any of the conservative ways of dress or action.

Because of this, the conservative Jewish element felt more godly, and that they could slight them. And their widows were not being fed like they were supposed to. The liberal Jews felt that it was unfair. And it was.

The argument cut into the apostles’ time. Their job was to teach and move this young church forward. It was not to make sure that elderly women had dinner. It wasn’t that this was not important. It was very important. There were precedents set that needed to change. The church needed to know that everybody in it were important, not just those who felt they were in charge.

This committee was formed to addressed the problem. All of the leaders in this committee, deacons if you will, from the Greek word used here, diakonos, or minister, were trusted members of the liberal Jewish community. Even the conservatives could tell that they were full of the Spirit.

This freed the apostles for their jobs, which were vital to the growth of the church. However, this was also vital in that all needed to know that they were important. Also one group needed to know that they did not have control over the church.

So the committee was formed, and probably lasted until the food program was in place.

Committees are only bad when they stay in place after their usefulness is gone. Then they become sacred cows and sacred cows are never good. They stymie the church themselves after a while and need to be disbanded.

But a good committee frees the pastor and the leaders for what is more important: prayer and teaching the word. And there is no group of people in the church that is more important, no matter how they may feel, or how they may dress or act.

For you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

showing favoritism

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:1-4)

Sam Walton was always such an underrated guy when he came into his stores because he looked so ordinary. No one could believe he was so wealthy and the owner so it was easy to disregard him.

The same thing happens in church when someone comes in looking less than perfect. We forget that Jesus himself said he came to the poor. The rich already had their god.

As the prophet John the Baptizer was stuck in prison. He got to worrying. “What if” kept going through his mind. What if I wasn’t through? What if this is all a mistake?

What if Jesus was not really the Messiah and I am dying for nothing.

He sent his disciples to Jesus to ask him and to just make sure that everything was alright and like it should be. He was having a crisis of faith and needed reassurance.

Jesus knew this and did not gripe at John for his lack of faith. Instead he told John’s disciples to go back and tell John these things: Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me (Matthew 11:4-6). Jesus knew that John needed the extra ministry only he could give.

But that ministry was not Jesus going to him and saying, O John, everything is fine. Quit being a baby and take your martyrdom like a man. Whether or not John was a real man was undisputed. He was a strong preacher and a fervent follower of God was obvious to anyone who saw him even for a short while.

What Jesus said was, there are a lot of miracles happening and they are happening to people who do not have the money to pay me. The good news is preached to the poor.

It didn’t matter to Jesus whether or not you had any money. In fact, on once occasion he told a young man to sell all he had and give the money away and then come follow him. He said that it didn’t matter. He had a lot of money around him.

At one point he asked how much money there was in their treasury and there was 300 days salary. That is a pretty fair amount. You know it was enough to make Judas lust after it. He probably wouldn’t have been bothered by a small amount.

What Jesus wanted was your heart anyway. He tells us to give because he knows that where you give to is where your heart is. But he wants you.

You don’t know who the person is that comes through the door. He could be a multi-millionaire like Sam Walton or not. But Jesus loves them as much as he loves you.