Acts 6:2 - Wear the Right Hats

Acts 6:2:
So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.”

How many hats do you wear? Most of us have more than one task -- job -- responsibility. We refer to this as wearing many hats -- one for each type of function we perform.

Occasionally, we are asked to wear a “hat” that doesn’t fit us well. When that happens, the efficiency of the task we perform suffers. We may not have the right skills -- the right ability -- the right discipline -- to do the job properly.

And, sometimes we just wear too many hats!

Wearing too many hats can be devastating to the work you want to accomplish.

In the early days of the Church, the Greek-speaking believers and the Hebrew-speaking believers began to have disputes and issues over how their respective widows were being served. We don’t know the full details, but we have all witnessed how, even today, we have similar issues when we start looking only to our own interests.

In their wisdom, the Twelve knew that they were not able to continue spreading the word of God effectively if they had to also conduct a food program!

They charged the disciples to put forth seven men, all able to meet the Apostles’ criteria of having wisdom and being full of the Spirit. Then, once the responsibilities of serving the widows were given over to these seven men, things were much smoother for all. And, the lack of disputes allowed the work of the Apostles flourish:

Acts 6:7:  So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

If you are a spiritual leader, what hats are you wearing? Do they all fit you well? Or -- are you trying to wear a hat that would better fit another’s head?

Trying to hold on to all the hats -- trying to do it all yourself -- can actually hinder the work you want to do! Sure, there is some satisfaction in knowing “you did it yourself,” and your hat rack might look good with a hat on every peg -- but was the work done as well as it could have been? Did something else you should have been doing get neglected?

Look around you. Others are ready and willing to help. Sure, they might not perform the task you give them the way you would do it -- they may even do it better!

By giving others a part in the work, you allow them to learn how to stretch, gain strength, and grow in their own usefulness for the Lord. Don’t underestimate the abilities of those around you -- you might just be giving a young David the courage he needs to pick up a few rocks...

1 Cor. 12:18-19:  But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?

Luke 16:10 - It's Just A Small Thing

Luke 16:10
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."

Is it important that a bank manager is focused on details? Would you trust a man to keep your finances if he couldn't remember where he parked his car at the end of each day?

Or, how about a cashier who just gave back paper bills instead of bothering with coins -- two dollars instead of $2.05? Even though it is a small thing -- you would feel cheated.

Sometimes seeing how people handle small things gives us an understanding about how they will handle bigger things. That is just something we have become accustomed to. We see the principle working with our kids -- with employees -- with coworkers -- with ourselves!

We give a small bit of responsibility, and we see what happens. It is sort of a training process -- or a proving ground.

Just a small amount, yes -- but a good indicator of whether we can entrust even more.

We have often heard of a large amount of money being found and returned to the rightful owner by a good citizen. -- It makes you think you could trust the finder with even more . . .

But -- how many times have you stopped to think about how you handle small things?

Do you take "sick days" from work to play hooky?

Do you look for ways to "trim" your tax obligations by being creative on your return?

Do you take one or two extra samples at the counter -- rationalizing that "they put them there for the customers" -- even though you know the intent was one per customer?

These are small things -- not big things. "Who would know,,and who would care?", you might say.

Yeah . . .  Who would?

Proverbs 15:3: The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

1 Timothy 5:24-25: The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

Luke 13:24-25 - The Party Is Inside!

Luke 13:24-25
“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.'
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’"

When people get together, it can be enjoyable. A large group of people?  -- That’s called a party!

No one wants to be left out of the party. You don’t even have to know what the celebration is about to have fun! Some of us just want to be “where the action is” . . . whether we know what the "action" is or not.

Here, Jesus urged His followers to do all they could to enter through the narrow door. It would not be easy to pass through -- and once the door was closed -- it would stay closed.

Jesus used this story to suggest that heaven would not be an easy place to enter. It had only one door in . . . a narrow one at that!

It sort of sounds like the door on Noah’s ark . . .  Once that door closed, the best advice for those outside was to grab a good umbrella!

In the parable, some had hung around the house before the door had been closed. They mingled with everyone -- enjoyed the fellowship -- had a great time! They just didn’t pay attention, and never made the effort to go inside.

Now -- once the door closed, they wanted in too. They suddenly realized that the party had moved indoors -- and they were standing outside!

They knocked on the door – they pounded – they pleaded! They said, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets!"

Through the windows, they saw all the people having a great time . . . but they were on the wrong side of the glass!

Jesus brought the story’s meaning home to His listeners:  The time would come when those outside -- those who had seen the door, but never bothered to pass through it -- would see the party get better!

They would see the likes of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and a whole host of other “spiritual” celebrities -- but instead of being with them -- those outside would be thrown out!

Where will you be when the door is closed?

Remember this . . . the door is narrow, and not easily entered. If you have passed through it, you will know . . . It isn’t a door you pass through without your knowledge, effort, or understanding.

Don’t be one who just hangs around the crowd -- a kind of party crasher! 

You are invited to join the party too! So come on in . . . while you can!