Take a moment to read Acts 6:1-7 before reading the devotional below.
Well, in case you were feeling bad about yourself, today’s chapter includes the exceptionally human phrase, “rumblings of discontent.” The Holy Spirit was still on the move here in Acts 6, but the community experience that had been so other-worldly begins to develop cracks. Racism was the first weapon used to divide the early church, and unfortunately it is still one of the most commonly used spiritual weapons against the Church today. This first division in a supernaturally united church serves to remind us that when the Holy Spirit takes ground, Satan fights to take it back. (And remember, Jesus directly prayed for unity of believers in John 17. He knew this would not be an easy fight.)
Encouragingly, delegation seemed to solve the problem and thus the apostles were freed up to focus on prayer and teaching. As the number of believers expanded, the leadership had to grow and expand as well. And lest we think that food distribution is not that central, the apostles choose seven extremely qualified guys to head up the project. Seven. There were only twelve apostles (who by the way could have just canned the project and given up because it was getting out of hand). But Jesus cares about the poor getting enough to eat and in this case no less than a team of seven could get the job done.
Yes, God cares about your rumblings of discontent. When you feel like you are being treated unfairly and your needs are not being provided for, he listens and acts. When you start complaining loudly to others and get a hungry mob mobilized, he listens and acts. And God designed the Church to provide for your needs. We may feel a long way off from that now, but deep in the heart of God the poor are held tightly. If you are not materially poor, share. If you are materially poor, ask God to provide. If you are part of a church, make sure there are ministries that care for physical needs. And listen to those who express their needs, even if they do it with a certain lack of eloquence.