"LEADERS ARE SERVANTS"

1 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."

Acts 6:1

Church conflict can come from different fronts, and sometimes, these issues arise from the leadership level. How do we try to set things straight when we feel like we're not getting the kind of service we deserve?

In our previous blog, we mentioned that the church is to uphold purity and preserve its testimony. Here's another source of displeasure within the church:

Leadership Issues

There are times when members disagree with their leaders' actions or decisions. One good example is the record found in Acts chapter 6. The early church experienced rapid growth, and with such growth came a serious problem. The church is made up of Jews from traditionally Jewish places as well as Jewish settlements in Gentile territories.

The early church was made up of mostly poor believers, including widows who had no means of providing for themselves. Some of the widows were being left out of charitable giving because there was inadequate supervision. So, some of the Greek-speaking Jewish believers were complaining of this "unfair" treatment.

In verse two, the Apostles decided that it was not wise for them to turn away from their calling to preach the gospel and do table serving instead. They knew that something was off, and this should not go on.

The leaders' response to the problem was to gather all believers and develop a solution. They were convinced that their ministry of preaching should take precedence over serving tables or handling finances. So, they appointed qualified men and designated them to perform these tasks.

Likewise, church disputes can arise when people are overwhelmed and unable to function in their respective areas of ministry. Some pastors are overworked to the point of exhaustion. As a result, they fail to deliver well-prepared sermons and properly shepherd God's people. Some of them even get burnt out from too much work, doing nearly everything there is to do in the church.

In moments when the church is having feuds, it is best to slow down and find ways to make things work, just like the Apostles—they delegated the task to men fit for service. And at the end of the day, the church is God's household; we are all mere servants with specific roles to play. When we perform our roles with humility and joy, not only do we avoid disputes, but we give the glory that belongs to God.

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Willie Woodard on Unsplash