A successful enterprise depends on teamwork. I visited a coffeeshop once where the barista greeted me with an indifferent, Yeah? The coffee tasted good, but why return for a snarl? I never went back until a friend asked to meet there. This time the baristas chatted and smiled. I believe the owner caught wind of that crabby server and made changes.

Unforeseen problems emerge when running a business, and unforeseen problems emerged from the rapid growth of the early church in Jerusalem. One of these involved the feeding of widows in the community, some overlooked at dinnertime. So the disciples gathered, developed a plan, and issued a statement:

It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, 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 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.

The disciples appointed seven men to take charge. They picked fellow followers of Jesus, full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit. This resulted in the word of God spreading, a wealth of new converts (including a large number of priests), and well-fed widows.

Logistics, when coupled with preaching and teaching, launch the gospel forward. Every man and woman out sharing the good news depends on colleagues serving behind the scenes. But not just anyone—fellow workers full and wisdom and the Holy Spirit.

We can be encouraged to serve wherever God has placed us, and to pray for increased wisdom and more of the Holy Spirit in our work. Together, we will see the Lord bring curious and needy people through our doors. Proving once again that a successful enterprise depends on teamwork.

Acts 6 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Louis Hansel