The world vs. The Word: Movement

“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” – Acts 6: 4

            We live in a world of instantaneous feedback and immediate gratification.  If you were to call us a “microwave generation” that would be an understatement.  The very idea that we have to wait thirty seconds for anything is simply preposterous.  Why, we could send half a million dollars around the world in thirty seconds.  In thirty seconds, you could learn about the Gerenuk, while watching a movie trailer, whilst texting your friends; and you could do it all from your cell phone!  We can Skype someone from Mexico, while texting someone in Florida, and e-mailing a person in China.  Technology and social media, (in my opinion) has catapulted the concept that motion is action and movement, profit.  This ideal has grown to the point that people feel compelled to look at their phone every 5 seconds for fear they will miss out on this fast paced world that is flying by.  In short, you must move to keep up with the movement.  Movement is the motto, when in reality, much can be accomplished in the stillness of life. 

            The above scripture, among other things, give us insight into the mentality of the early church.  As the organization began coming together they found a growing need to care for the widows.  The widows were being neglected in the “daily ministration.”  The apostle’s did not want to leave off the care for the widows but in the same sense they thought it not good to “leave the Word of God to serve tables.”  So, the decision was made to elect some good men to care for the widows, and the apostle’s resolved to give themselves to prayer and the ministration of the Word.  It is not they couldn’t help the widows, or wouldn’t, or thought it was beneath them.  The reason they would not leave the Word of God and prayers was because they had a firm understanding as to where the power came from.  This cause of Christ was not advanced by the intellectual ability of a few.  It was not growing because of some organizational scheme or trendy marketing plan.  The power of God called sinners unto himself and they (the apostles I mean) realized that if there was to be any action or profit in the spiritual, it would have to come from God.  For this reason, they saw fit to give themselves to prayer and the ministration of the Word.  Stop and consider what this must have looked like to some.  They came to them saying, “We need you to serve tables.”  The apostles respond “no, because we have to pray.”  Try that one out next time your church passes around the clean-up sign-up sheet.  The apostles knew there was not a whole lot of movement and motion in prayer or in studying God’s word, but there was action and profit.  It kept them centered on God, and it kept the glory down.  This was the chief need, for without God we can do nothing.  Now, consider this, if the apostles thought is needful to exalt prayer and God’s word over the feeding of widows.  How much more over the responding to a text message?  How much more over the unsocial social media?  How much more over our immediate gratification or instantaneous pleasures?  Is there anything in our life that should take precedent over our fellowship with the Father?  The world exalts the man who is on the move.  He or she who is jet setting all over the country, making deals, and making money.  Prayer and studying God’s word is without much physical movement, people may scoff “you mean you spent your afternoon reading your Bible?”  As if you did nothing.  True, in the natural, little was accomplished, but in the spiritual much was gained!

            Please do not misunderstand, I am not contending for idleness and laziness (because the Bible doesn’t).  We must make a living, help our fellowman, pursue our education; clean our homes, wash our clothes, and perform many other duties necessary to existing.  These are tasks that must be done.  However, they are secondary.  The fellowship with the Father and with His Son is the primary.  Let us take great care in keeping that which is primary, primary; and that which is secondary, secondary.  Motion and movement may attract the praise of the natural, but we as pilgrims long not for the praise of men; but the praise of God.