It is not seemly or desirable or right that we should have to give up or neglect [preaching] the Word of God in order to attend to serving at tables and superintending the distribution of food. – Acts 6:2, AMP

If you are a caring person of integrity, you will yearn to help people in need. Moreover, other people will recognize your desire and your willingness to help, and they will approach you with opportunities to be of service. If you are not careful, however, your desire to help will drive you to over-commit yourself, and instead of helping a few people very well you will end up helping too many people very poorly.

In Acts 6, the Apostles recognized this truth when the task of providing for the physical needs of the church threatened their primary task of providing for the spiritual needs of the church. Though the need to minister to the widows was necessary, honorable, and commanded by God, the Apostles realized that to set aside preaching for table serving would mean setting aside their best work for God in favor of only a good work for God. In order to stop the good from becoming the enemy of the best, the Apostles said “no” to serving tables and, instead, delegated this needful work to the first recorded deacons in the Bible.

The primary work of ministry that God has given you may be to preach, it may be to serve tables, or it may be something else entirely. Whatever it is, just be wary of taking on so much good work that you don’t have time to do God’s best work. There are needs everywhere, and just because you can help doesn’t necessarily mean you should help. Be discerning like the Apostles were in how you serve others, and you will find that by telling some people “no” you’ll be much better equipped to help those whom God would have you tell “yes.”

Shop hundreds of Christian-themed products at our new store! A portion of each purchase goes to support the work of Today’s Quote From God. To visit the Today’s Quote From God Store, please click here.