The Power of Delegation - Acts 6

One of the most difficult transitions for leaders to make is the shift from doing to leading. The Harvard Business Review says this about the importance of delegation if you want to be a great leader.  

"While it may seem difficult, elevating your impact requires you to embrace an unavoidable leadership paradox: You need to be more essential and less involved. When you justify your hold on work, you’re confusing being involved with being essential. But the two are not the same — just as being busy and being productive are not necessarily equal. " Harvard Business Review, 10/10/17

The disciples needed to learn this as well. 

The Choosing of the Seven

6 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 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 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

What can we learn for the situation that arose in the early church? 

1. There was a clear need the church wasn't meeting. While the church can't meet every need some things are more important like caring for widows. James the apostles says this about honoring widows, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27

2. The disciples realized that trying to meet this need themselves would take them away from their primary calling to preach the Word.  Whenever you say "yes" to one thing you say "no" to something else.  Leaders need to keep "the main thing, the main thing."  The main thing is preaching the Good News of Christ and spreadhing the gospel. 

3. They didn't abdicate leadership but delegated it intentionally and responsibly.  The apostles didn't throw their hands up and say, "Somebody else needs to do this!". They chose men full of the Spirit and full of faith.  They chose mature Christians.  It reminds us that anybody that takes a leadership role in the church needs to be a person of spiritual maturity.  Not perfect, but someone in an authentic relationship with Christ and connected to the body of Christ.  Faithfulness is to be preferred over ability if the latter is lacking. 

4. We see the result of responsible and intentional delegation.  The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly.  

Being a pastor for a long time, I know most pastors try to do it all on their own.  This is neither smart, effective, nor biblical.  Let's learn from the church in Acts and grow!  Being busy and being productive are not necessarily equal.