How Are You At Waiting Tables?

December 2007
Acts 6:1-8 In those days, as the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, "It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to wait on tables. Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry." The proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith. Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
I chose this text to show you how I believe we should approach our Christmas program. One thing I am starting to learn about God is that he “loves a cheerful giver.” In addition, he blesses faithfulness in whatever task we are involved. We sometimes tend to think that if we aren’t witnessing, teaching, preaching, or singing; we aren’t ministering. God, however, seems to have a radically different view. These seven men weren’t chosen to be evangelists; they were chosen to administer a food program. Yet the apostles required men “full of the Spirit and wisdom.” When those Spirit filled men began to do their seemingly mundane task, verse 7 says, “the preaching about God flourished.” That’s kind of strange, isn’t it? Before you assume that it just freed up the preachers to study and pray more, read verse 8. God used Stephen, one of the food servers, to do “great wonders and signs.”
The upstairs portion of our program is ministry the way we normally do ministry, but the downstairs segment is a little different for us. We can choose to look at it as mundane, or we can ask God to use each of us as ministers for Him as we serve. Isn’t it interesting that the book of Acts… the history book of the New Testament Church devotes 2 of its 28 chapters to a food server. In addition, his story introduces us to Saul of Tarsus or Paul, as he is later known.
What if Stephen had grumbled and complained? What if he had said, “I’m too gifted to be serving food?” He would have never have given his testimony to a bunch of Pharisees that included Paul. So I challenge you… dive in enthusiastically! Help with the set up & clean up! Decorate a great table! Serve with joy! Give like it’s Christmas… oh, it is.

Danny