In Order To Grow, Sometimes You Need To Say No

Acts 6:1 (NIV)
¹  In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

On verse 1:  In the Old Testament God shows His heart to care for orphans and widows (see for example Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 10:18; and Psalm 146:9).  This concern for orphans and widows is also found in the New Testament in verses like James 1:27, 1 Timothy 5, and here in Acts 6 where the growing Christian community has a ministry to care for widows in Jerusalem.

Who were the “Grecian Jews” and the “Hebraic Jews” and why does it matter?  In Jerusalem there were many Jews who had moved into Jerusalem from “Grecian” or Hellenistic regions (see Acts 1:5), that is, from countries where the dominant culture was Greek.  These “Grecian Jews” grew up being influenced by Greek culture and moved to Jerusalem where they were now living amongst “Hebraic Jews” who grew up speaking Hebrew all their lives and in a more traditionally Jewish environment.   That would be similar to me, a Chinese boy who grew up in Canada speaking English, loving hockey and listening to the Beatles, moving to China to live amongst Chinese people who had spent all their lives speaking Mandarin and living in a more traditionally Chinese culture.

As Christianity spreads throughout Jerusalem, both Grecian Jews and Hebraic Jews are coming to faith in Christ and now Grecian Jews and Hebraic Jews are both filling the church.  With this came some tensions and misunderstandings.  In particular the Grecian Jews find that their widows are being overlooked in the church’s daily distribution of food to the needy, probably not intentionally but inadvertently.  So the Grecian Jews begin to complain to the church leaders about it.

What can we learn from this?  As a community grows, there will always be new challenges to address, whether they be administrative, cultural, or something else.   It takes wise and discerning leadership to know how best to address such challenges.

Acts 6:2-6 (NIV)
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.
³  Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them
⁴  and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
⁵  This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
⁶  They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

On verses 2-6:  As the leaders of the church community, the “Twelve”, meaning the apostles, had to decide what to do about this food distribution problem.  They wisely conclude that their priority needs to be on prayer and preaching the word of God, and that they should delegate the food distribution ministry to a capable team.  Seven men known for being full of the Spirit and wisdom are chosen and commissioned for this ministry (v3).

What can we learn from this?  Here we see the importance of delegating responsibilities to the right people.  In this case, the apostles delegated the food distribution ministry to people who have a genuine relationship with God plus good character (“full of the Spirit” – v3) as well as a good head on their shoulders (“wisdom” – v3).  When choosing someone to entrust an important responsibility to, don’t just look for talent or experience; consider that person’s character, their relationship with God, their ability to work with the team and the way they make decisions.

Acts 6:7 (NIV)
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.

On verse 7:  Because they made the right decision to delegate the food distribution ministry to others, the church leaders could focus on preaching the word of God, and “so the word of God spread” and the church grew.  The church was able to provide such deep and excellent teaching of God’s Word that even Jewish priests, who were professional teachers of the Hebrew Scriptures, were turning to faith in Jesus.

What can we learn from this?  In order to grow, sometimes you need to say no.  You can’t say yes to every cause and every opportunity without burning out and short-changing yourself, your family and your community.  You must eventually learn to say “no” to good things so that you can say “yes” to the most important things.  As Pastor Craig Groeschel would say, there comes a point in a person’s leadership where they grow more with their yesses than with their no’s.

Acts 6:8 (NIV)
⁸  Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

On verse 8:  In addition to the food distribution ministry, Stephen was also a gifted healer and teacher.   God was using him powerfully to reach people with the Gospel and in the next verse we read about some intense opposition that Stephen will face.  Whenever God’s kingdom is working, there is bound to be opposition at some point.

Acts 6:9-10 (NIV)
⁹  Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)–Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen,
¹⁰  but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

On verse 10:  Stephen was chosen for the food distribution ministry because of his wisdom and his being full of the Spirit (see verse 3).  He shows that here, as his opponents cannot stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Acts 6:11-15 (NIV)
¹¹  Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
¹²  So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.
¹³  They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
¹⁴  For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
¹⁵  All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

On verses 11-15:  Stephen’s opponents stir up some influential leaders in the community to seize Stephen and try him before the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of Jerusalem’s elders.  They accuse Stephen of making false, blasphemous statements about Moses, about God (v11), about the temple (v13) and about the law of Moses (v13).  Yet Stephen’s was “like the face of an angel” (v15), meaning that Stephen carried with him the presence, the grace and the power of God, which made it difficult to believe his opponent’s false accusations.

As you walk with Jesus, you will inevitably encounter opposition and criticism at some point.  Even when they falsely accuse you, don’t fight evil with evil, but keep shining your light for Jesus.  One day they will be ashamed of the way they slandered you, maybe not immediately, but eventually.

Father, I pray that I would say no when I need to so that I can say yes to the most important things You have called me to.  I pray that I would not fight evil with evil but keep shining my light when opposition and criticism come.  For these reasons and more, please fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that wisdom, grace and power from You would mark the decisions I make, the steps I take and the words I say.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!