Acts 6:2, commentary and pictures

Faced with complaints that widows were being overlooked as the church grew, the twelve gathered all the disciples to settle the matter together so dissatisfaction would not divide them. To serve tables was to manage the daily provision for the needy and the practical business of the church, and to leave the word of God was to abandon preaching and teaching Christ in order to do that work personally. It was not right for the apostles to make that exchange, so the care of the poor was entrusted to seven qualified men that the apostles might give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. God's order is that spiritual workers be relieved of business burdens that belong to others, with each laborer doing his own appointed part under wise and devoted men. Those chosen for practical duties must be faithful, honest, wise, full of the Holy Spirit and proven in character, set apart only after prayer and testing.

Setting and Wording

The twelve acted when complaint arose that widows were being neglected as the church's responsibilities grew, taking prompt measures to meet the need and to keep dissatisfaction from dividing the believers. They called the multitude of the disciples together and laid the matter before the whole community of believers instead of settling it by themselves alone. The practical responsibility was then assigned to seven qualified men, while the apostles continued in prayer and the ministry of the word, so the work was shared rather than placed on one person alone.

To serve tables is to manage the daily distribution and provision for the needy, including widows and other poor. It embraces handling the church's practical business and temporal affairs and overseeing the distribution of aid so that care is given fairly. Such practical service is necessary work, yet it is not the apostles' primary calling, and personally carrying it would take them away from their central work of teaching.

To leave the word of God is to abandon preaching and teaching God's word in order to manage that distribution and similar practical duties personally. That central work is preaching Christ, and the way was provided to relieve the apostles of apportioning to the poor and like burdens so they could devote themselves to prayer and to preaching Christ.

Division of Duties Taught

It is not right or reasonable to abandon preaching the word of God in order to manage daily practical service and distribution of aid to the poor and needy. The Holy Spirit provided a way to relieve the apostles of apportioning to the poor and similar burdens, so they could devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word and to preaching Christ. Rather than deciding the matter alone, the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together and brought the complaint before the whole community, and the church chose seven qualified men to take responsibility for the practical work. Managing the daily provision is what serving tables means, and church responsibilities should be shared so that spiritual leaders can give themselves to teaching God's word.

Caring for practical needs and the fair distribution of available means is a necessary task, but it was not the apostles' primary calling and was not to be performed at the expense of proclaiming God's word. The church should therefore arrange its responsibilities so that preaching and fair care of the poor are both carried out, keeping these duties distinct. Trustworthy, wise, honest and unselfish people were selected to oversee care for the poor, while the apostles remained devoted to their ministry. The practical responsibility was assigned to seven qualified men while the apostles continued in prayer and the ministry of the word, so the work was shared rather than placed on one person alone.

Important leadership work should be shared among chosen men of God rather than left under the control of one person. This is illustrated by assigning the practical responsibility to seven qualified men while the apostles continued in prayer and the ministry of the word, and the example is applied to appointing at least seven men to share the General Conference president's work. Those chosen are to be honest and filled with the Holy Spirit. Assigning the care of practical needs to the seven freed the apostles for teaching the truth and entrusted the church's practical business to others, and this division of duties allowed the church to grow in strength and number.

The appointment of the seven did not prevent them from teaching the faith. Though appointed for a special work, they were qualified to instruct others and taught with zeal and success, which gave the apostles greater freedom for their ministry. Capable men with proven leadership in their households were chosen, and after prayer and the approval of the church and the Holy Spirit they were set apart by the laying on of hands. Those appointed served the church, including baptizing and administering the Lord's ordinances, as part of gospel order in protecting the work of teaching God's word by arranging for others to care for practical needs.

This is God's approved Bible plan for organizing His work, and it must be studied and followed. Those engaged in spiritual work are not to leave the word of God to bear business responsibilities they are not called to bear, and no laborer is to take upon himself responsibilities belonging to another. Every laborer is to do well his own part and leave entrusted duties to others, while business matters connected with God's work are to be directed by wise men devoted to God who know the principles of heaven and have learned to walk with God, and others look after spiritual matters. The same order and system kept in the apostles' days must be kept now.

Those chosen to lead with general oversight of the spiritual interests of the church and those called to minister in word and doctrine must as far as possible be relieved from temporal cares, perplexities and lesser details of business. They need time for meditation, prayer and study of the Scriptures, because entering into lesser details of business and dealing with the various temperaments met in church affairs dims clear spiritual discernment. Suitable officers handle ordinary business, freeing spiritual leaders for prayer, study and ministry. The prosperity of the cause depends very largely on its various departments being conducted by men of ability who are qualified for their positions. All matters of a temporal nature properly belong before the proper officers to be adjusted by them, and only matters so difficult as to baffle their wisdom should be carried into the council of those who have oversight of the entire church.

Choosing Qualified Helpers

The practical work was entrusted to seven men chosen for good character, spiritual fullness, and wisdom. Those chosen were to be devoted, faithful men of prayer, honest, unselfish, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, of ability and qualified for their positions. Capable men with proven leadership in their households were selected, and after prayer and the approval of the church and the Holy Spirit they were set apart by the laying on of hands to handle business responsibilities and the fair distribution of means for the poor. In this way the apostles remained focused on the ministry of God's word instead of leaving it to attend to practical business themselves.

Choosing people for important church duties was not done hastily. Though the apostles themselves were faithful men, full of the Holy Spirit, and had performed miracles, they acted with earnest prayer, trembling, and reliance on God before choosing those who would carry the church's burdens. The selection was brought before God in earnest prayer, and candidates were to be known and shown to be fit, waiting until character and fitness for the work are known. After the approval of the church and the Holy Spirit the men were set apart by the laying on of hands.

Widows and fatherless people were to receive support through special donations. The tithe was consecrated to God and reserved for supporting the ministry, since the responsibility to preach and teach God's word took priority over administering practical aid. Skilled workers who handle God's Word should not be diverted from their ministry to serve tables, but the church should support such workers liberally so they can devote themselves to effective labor in God's vineyard.

A leader's office does not make every practical task his personal responsibility or make him the only one qualified to do it. The needs of widows, fatherless children, and others who needed help were assigned to qualified people so those responsible for preaching could remain devoted to the word. Leaders should delegate practical work, give priority to the work of the Word rather than take up tasks that others can carry, and avoid being drawn away from their proper duties.

Ministers Freed for Ministry

Gospel ministers are to keep their work free from secular or political duties and from separate business, giving time and ability to Christian service rather than leaving the ministry of God's word to manage practical service. Placing the ongoing oversight of church business upon a minister is not the Bible plan and does not foster spiritual life, for leaders should not abandon ministering the word to take on business and financial details that can be assigned to others. Those responsibilities belong with devoted, faithful people chosen to handle business matters, so that those responsible for the spiritual interests of the church can give that work their attention. Ministers freed in this way are to proclaim the message in many places, including camp-meetings and open-air meetings and large meetings, going where people are ready to hear and opening new fields.

Those who minister in word and doctrine need time for prayer, meditation, and study of Scripture, and were to be freed from temporal duties so they could give attention to spiritual leadership. They should not divide time and strength between the sacred calling and separate business, nor take on burdens that occupy thoughts and time, because this weakens ability to pray, to think clearly, to understand those needing help, and to give timely counsel. Personal laborers should therefore give themselves to earnest study and prayer and diligent study of Scripture. Ordinary business details and difficult temporal matters belong before the proper church officers, with only matters so perplexing as to baffle their wisdom carried to the council overseeing the entire church.

Responsibilities should be divided according to the work entrusted to each person, with ministers giving themselves to preaching and spiritual preparation while capable business people manage financial affairs. Ministers should not leave the work of the Word for burdensome business duties, nor be held to serving tables or confined to churches whose members are already established in the faith. They should teach believers to draw spiritual light from Christ and to help one another, and by that division of labor be freed to advance the word of God and missionary work and to open new fields.

A minister whose time and strength are needed for God's work should not let temporal duties or minor concerns consume the service owed to that work. Bro. D's willingness to bear burdens outside his calling had engrossed his mind and time in temporal matters and hindered his gospel labor, and A. C. B. was held by petty church disputes and burdens the congregation could have settled itself instead of being free to labor abroad and help in preaching. Time and talents misdirected toward other duties while missionary work is left undone allow the neglected field to be occupied against the truth. Physical or practical service can bless when occasion requires it, but when strength is needed for God's cause such duties rob God of that service. Ministers should devote abilities and energies to saving souls and to reaching people, pursuing the work with perseverance and zeal and bringing each interest to a thorough and careful close so those deciding may find the way to life.

Ministering the word of God must not be displaced by the absorbing cares of temporal life. Serving tables, attending to temporal needs, must not be mixed with a minister's work in a way that harms his influence or his soul. Those entrusted with presenting solemn truths must keep attention upon that work.

The apostles regarded proclaiming and teaching the Word as work they must not neglect in order to serve tables. Ministers' time and strength are therefore to be prioritized for explaining Scripture and bringing people to knowledge of the truth, rather than tying capable workers up in service work that does little to teach the way of life.

Wider Personal Applications

Serving tables as practical service must not displace the work of the word of God, and restaurant work illustrates the principle because youth may be serving tables there but that service is not sufficient gain if they are losing interest in the truth. Their spiritual welfare must be guarded, and such work is worthwhile only if it produces favorable spiritual results, otherwise God's people should take up work that strengthens spiritual power and helps them grow in grace. Repeatedly leaving an active mission interest to attend to household matters is leaving the work to serve tables. A couple are both serving tables when family burdens absorb time and interests instead of warning the world and caring for spiritual need, and ministers whose domestic or selfish concerns distract them from saving souls are to give themselves to Scripture and prayer as the apostles did.

Buying and selling that divide the mind and distract a person from God's work illustrate serving tables drawing the apostles from the word, weakening spiritual growth and usefulness. By contrast, presenting the truth clearly to many people and bringing out things new and old from the treasure house of Scripture is distinct from serving tables. Taking on routine, little, simple, commonplace matters, doing other men's thinking and planning and being mind and brains for them, is serving tables that a leader called to larger responsibilities must not take up. That course wrongs both leader and helpers, weakens reasoning faculties, and keeps helpers dependent instead of self-reliant and wise, even dependent machine men instead of self-reliant, independent, wise workers.

God does not demand such taxing service, so the overburdened leader should train and trust helpers to think, plan, exercise judgment and bear responsibility themselves and grow in capacity, reserving his time and powers for greater duties. Handling even simple matters for others leaves them failing to exercise their own judgment and grow capable of carrying burdens, as when too many frivolous, commonplace matters were handled and even a superintendent's work was done for him. Every ounce of burden that can be lifted should be lifted, with helpers trained to think, plan, bear responsibility and grow in capacity and judgment while the leader gives himself to the larger responsibilities that require his powers. A person already carrying heavy responsibilities should not also be burdened with serving tables, as illustrated by Brother Rousseau, who was handling difficult school cases and trying to do the work of three men and should not also carry financial responsibilities.

Men described as having served tables are not far-seeing and are unfit to impose their narrow mold on the wider mission or let one person control everything. Different responsibilities should be assigned according to people's abilities rather than letting one person control everything, since serving tables is distinguished from directing and advancing the wider mission.