Today's Bible reading is the 6th chapter of the Book of Acts. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%206&version=NASB

The apostles moved quickly to address the grumblings that arose within the church regarding a certain group of widows who "were being overlooked in the daily serving of food". As witnessed since Pentecost, the church in Jerusalem was growing quickly as God was working through His people through the gospel message of Christ. With the increase in numbers had come an increase in ministry needs within the body of Christ. This specific need had to do with the caring of widows, something that scripture teaches us that God is much concerned about. From the action that was taken by the apostles to address this matter, it appears as if there was a common and unified understanding of this truth. I think this is seen in both the quickness of their response and the action taken. There was first an acknowledgement by the apostles that they themselves could not fulfill this ministry as they could not be diverted to "neglect the word of God in order to serve tables". This was by no means a statement making light of the duty to "serve tables" but one that emphasized the importance of teaching and preaching the word of God. We should also see and learn that it was never God's intention for just a few to be involved in ministry. To often such thinking exists in churches in our day. We also see that "serving tables" was not considered some demeaning task or ministry by who was chosen to perform it. The congregation was directed to select from among themselves "seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task". Again, ministering to the needs of the members of the body of Christ was (and is) important to God and the men chosen to perform it were to be those that already had good reputations among the people and men who were full of the Spirit and of wisdom. I have it in my mind that as the apostles were giving the people these instructions, in God inspired harmony, certain men began coming to the minds of the people because of the lives they had already been living before the people. It appears not to have taken a select committee to study the matter or to interview those who may have expressed an interest. Seven men were chosen and brought to the apostles as those who the people felt met the qualities that had been set forth. Further demonstrating that the apostles took this matter quite seriously, they prayed about these men before they "laid their hands on them" to signify their approval and authorization to perform this needed task. The process was quite a reflection of harmony within the body of Christ to care for a problem that had threatened disharmony. The result? "The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith." Amen!