“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.
