This Is the Way: A 30-Day Journey Through the Book of ActsSample

The Less Desirable Things

By Bekah Moes

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” —Acts 6:1-4 (NKJV)

Hold on a minute; something feels off. Just a page or two ago, we were around a table, eating carbs, sharing our belongings, and changing the world. In just a few chapters, we’ve gone from unity to complaints. It even seems like the pastors can’t be bothered to address the discrimination or serve the widows, because they have more important “Jesus-y” things to do. Then they delegate the “less desirable” tasks to others, and the congregation loves it! Is anyone else confused?

Remember, there’s a larger story at play. The Bible tells a continuous story of which each of the smaller stories are a part. Allow me to overgeneralize. It’s the story of God’s family and their persistent brokenness, dysfunction, and chaos and His ultimate restoration of peace and order. The story starts before Genesis and is still unfolding today. It’s both finished and ongoing—now and not yet.

In this moment in Acts 6, the good news of Jesus’ kingdom is spreading, and God’s family is growing. The heart of Acts 6 is the election of the church’s first deacons and the momentum of the rapidly growing Church. Why then does the author include this pesky little conflict between the Hebrews and the Greeks?

As a mother of five, I know a little something about conflict. There’s no shortage of bickering in my home. I can relate to the overwhelming outcry that sibling rivalries incite. Hearing “It’s not faaaair!” day after day is exhausting, and I don’t always intervene. Sometimes the kids need to work it out themselves. But if left unresolved, those little eruptions grow into resentment and bitterness which can breed contempt.

To face relational conflict is to be human. It’s disruptive, draining, and distracting, but it’s also an opportunity to become more aware of self, God, and others. Conflict is a divine invitation to embrace interruption and experience the transformation of chaos into order.

The very conflict the apostles delegated in Acts 6 escalated later in the family of God. Fast-forward in the New Testament, and you’ll discover that as the Church grew, so did the drama. Mixed in with all the beautiful praise-worthy stuff is the wrestle between outsiders and insiders, the struggles with hierarchy and power, prejudice and discrimination, disagreements over what to do with church money or what to eat and drink, and conflicting interpretations of Jesus’ teachings. It’s all a constant, noisy presence. We see it in the messy relationship between the original twelve disciples and the Apostle Paul. We see it in the Epistles as Paul addresses specific problems that arose in local congregations in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Colossae, and Thessalonica. Spiritual, emotional, and relational conflicts still abound in the Church today. It’s nothing new! So what exactly is the problem?

The call to love God and love people is no small feat, and the practical context God has given us in which to work it all out is that of a family. The Church isn’t a building or an event. We’re a family learning to live “the Jesus way” together. The less desirable things—like conflict—are often the path to a more authentic gospel message among us. In relationships with each other, we practice the upside-down and backward way of self-sacrificing love. We learn how to serve, take the last place, and consider others as more important than ourselves. When we mess up and hurt each other, we bring it into the open and face it together.

Brothers and sisters, when Church life gets messy, the good stuff of the kingdom is at work. Let’s remember that the story of the Church is not one of perfection but one of growth and grace. The pressure of needing to achieve a certain outcome is off. Jesus demonstrated that He’s more interested in what we’re learning along the way. Conflict and tension are not signs of failure, they’re simply opportunities for transformation.

Just as the early Church faced challenges, we too will encounter moments of discord. It’s in these moments that we’re invited to live out the gospel with humility and honesty. May we embrace the opportunity. Let’s set the table for one another, share the bread, and continue the work of His kingdom together.

Prayer

Father, will You help me to embrace interruptions as divine opportunities? Teach me to become more like Christ in both honesty and humility. Increase my capacity to value shared growth over personal gain. Help me grow in love and service to others and let the way I treat others be a witness to the world what it means to be a part of Your family. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activation

• How do you typically respond to conflict within your church or family? Take a moment to make note of what God might be wanting to teach you through these moments of tension.
• In what ways can you practice the “upside-down” way of self-sacrificing love within your relationships? Look for one person this week who you can show this kind of love to in a practical way.
• How can you embrace interruptions in your life as opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper connection with God and others?

For Further Reflection

Acts 6; Matthew 22:34–39; Philippians 2:1–11; 1 Corinthians 13

Holy Spirit, what are you saying to me?