Labor to Preach

Division of labor in local church ministry produces new leaders. Invariably, new problems replace old problems, once the old ones have been resolved. Church leaders are wise to consider the source of any complaint and to look for the problem solvers near the source of the problem. This is what the apostles did with the dispute between the Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews at Jerusalem in Acts 6:1–7. The issue was the disproportionate charitable distribution of food to widows.

Economic times were challenging for the early church at Jerusalem in the mid-30’s A.D. Political unrest was accompanied by a famine, and the church was adding large numbers of Hellenistic widows moving to Jerusalem for the end of their days.

The apostolic ministry of the word of God was proving very effective, but as the complaint was filed on behalf of the Hellenistic widows, the leadership was faced with a new internal problem. There were serious consequences to the community life and the mission of the church.

Preachers and teachers who spend minimal amounts of time studying the Scriptures should question their calling to this work. If a leader is constrained by other obligations, to the neglect of his studies and opportunities to preach and teach, he may be misusing his time. The priority of local church leadership is prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4), but there are other things going on in a church family.

The apostles approached the congregation at Jerusalem with a proposition to divide the labor by recommending the group filing the complaint put forth men to assist the widows. The Greek names comprising the list suggest the problem solvers were Hellenists themselves. The resolution was pleasing to the congregation, who put forth seven spiritual men to lead the work of food distribution.

There is no unemployment in heralding the coming kingdom of Christ (Lk 10:2); and there is no shortage of work to be done in the local church. When tasks need to be accomplished, wise church leaders will expand the leadership labor pool that will allow new qualified leaders to join in the work of the ministry. The benefit to the local church is leadership development and a prioritized ministry of the Word. Gifted laborers (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4), chosen for diverse works, liberate others who labor to preach. Here is the beauty of unity and diversity in church life and mission.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

June 4, 2021