Articles
Find These Men
By the time we come to Acts 6 we are about four to five years removed from Pentecost. Acts 6 is the first real collective problem to arise. Ananias and Sapphira were an issue in Acts 5, but that was isolated to the two of them. Now in Acts 6 there are two different groups of widows. One group is having their needs supplied and the other is feeling neglected.
The Apostles told the disciples to look among themselves to find men with certain attributes (Acts 6:3-4). Acts 6 does not tell us how they did it. It just tell us the results. The question I asked my high school class is, “How did the people know these men to be who they were? Was there a little cloud that followed them around hovering above their head? How did they know them?”
My class gave these answers:
- It could be the people talked and asked each other if they knew any man like this?
- It could be that these men were known by their behavior.
- Perhaps these men were known because of their character.
All of those are great answers. Also, they would have wanted to choose men of the same nationality. The Jewish widows were already being provided for. The Hellenists widows were feeling neglect. So a man who was also Hellenistic would have been better able to identify with them.
This situation provides us a good template for how to handle problems in a local church or between brethren. Find someone the people respect and have something in common. Maybe a common religious history. Maybe a common family background. Find men who have demonstrated good judgment in dealing with people. Men whose character is known by their behavior. We would not ask a man who we did not know, did not respect, or whose character was questionable. Find a man with love for people. A man whose heart is to help people. While all may have a desire to help, not all have the skill. It requires maturity and one who is spiritual (Gal. 6:1).
How did this turn out? The numbers spread and disciples multiplied. They did not divide. They came together with one heart soul and mind. These seven men helped prevent a disaster in the early years of the rule of Christ. When we have a desire to get along, even if we are feeling neglected, there is always someone who can help. Find them. Find those who character is known and whose behavior is known by all. God’s people will be blessed.
Rickie
