Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables… but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:2, 4)
As believers, we are all asked to serve the Lord in one way or another. It can be as simple as a meal for a shut-in or a bag of vegetables dropped off at the local homeless shelter. Other times our acts of service are more involved.
The Gentile widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. As a result, a complaint was brought before the disciples, asking them to take care of the situation.
The disciples had two important ministries in the early church: prayer and ministry of the word (teaching). When someone with a legitimate concern wanted them to take care of a problem, they responded by keeping things in perspective and delegating the work. They were perfectly capable of performing the work that was asked of them, but God had set them aside for their own tasks.
Just like the early disciples, we are called to God’s service. Sometimes we are asked to do things that are best left to others. If we take on too much responsibility, all of our work suffers because of it. It seems those who give are continually asked to give more until, if they are not careful, they are used up. We all have to guard against that sometimes because we have to be prepared for anything.
As with everything, we all approach our responsibilities as preppers differently. Some may thrive in this environment and they are blessed to be able to handle so much. Others, when asked to take on more responsibility, will need to follow the disciples’ example: keep the priorities God has given them and delegate. The old saying, “When God closes a door, He opens a window” applies here. If the need is great, He will see it filled somehow.
This, however, is not an excuse to be lazy and slothful. God knows your heart and He loves a cheerful giver. Giving of yourself is the greatest gift you can give in His service.
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Today in Christian History
May 17th
“If it is true that Jesus is God’s Son, and that through Him whosoever will may approach the Father Himself, what more honorable calling can a man follow than to realize this fact and act upon it?” asked John Flynn, as he submitted to the call of ministry that God had laid on his heart.
But it wasn’t just any ministry John Flynn was interested in. It was Australia’s Outback that intrigued him. There was incredible desolation, preventable deaths among the people, a lack of education, and souls in need of salvation. But these factors were not all that John was determined to address. He envisioned railroads and radio stations. He dreamed of nursing centers where people could come for medical treatment. And after the invention of the airplane, he birthed a dream to have air ambulances that could rush doctors to urgent cases, or critically injured or ill people to medical care.
It took many years and many uphill battles, but through it all John was able to see many of his dreams succeed. And on May 17th, 1928, John saw the world’s first civilian flying doctor service come to life when Doctor K. St. Vincent took to the skies on its first call. Soon hundreds were being helped by a man who felt that no job or dream was too big for God.