“Do Not Discriminate When Sharing To The Needy!”

“Do Not Discriminate When Sharing To The Needy!”
Once upon a time I said to myself that I remain grateful to whoever wants to do my job for me. Division of labour means there is clearly assigned responsibilities to various persons. Through division of labour those who are being served would not have any reason to complain or grumble. Division of labour is intended for effeciency in service, greater output, and an all inclusiveness of all stakeholders. Prince Nico Mbarga captured this so Africanly when he sang in “Family Movement” that papa is governor of the family, while mama is caretaker. Where there is complain and grumbling for lack of little or no attention the general outcome is bound to suffer stagnation.
These are neither renaissance concepts nor post modern novelties. Division of labour was first pronounced by God to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden – even if it was pronounced as punishment for disobedience.
In the early church it was the seemingly common problem of care for widows that jilted the apostles to this age old understanding of the usefulness of “division of labour.”
As membership in the church increased the Hellenistic Jews “complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.”
The apostles owned up that it was their fault because they wanted to do everything. When you are a “Jack of all trade” you become a master of none.
The apostles asked the disciples to “choose seven men…who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” to whom they will give responsibility of food distribution while they the apostles gave their “attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
Once this was done, “the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:1-7).
A seemingly insignificant issue like the distribution of food to widows would have fragmented the Jerusalem church; just because the widows of Hellenistic Jews were being overlooked. Thank God the apostles were inspired to solve the problem through division of labour.
If a Christian community must avoid stagnation and bring increase to the body of Christ the ministers should “give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Lay people, full of the Spirit and wisdom should be chosen by all the disciples and assigned the tasks of food distribution to the widows, refugees, internally displaced persons etc.
When this is done, transparency and accountability will be enhanced and the number of disciples will increase.
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit help us not to segregate against some needy people when we distribute goods and gifts to widows, orphans, refugees, and the internally displaced. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!