LEADERSHIP IN ACTS CHAPTER 6

In chapter 6 the church finds itself in a problem. It is really a small problem, but be sure that if problems and irritations are not dealt with, it will escalate and eventually cause a rift and unnecessary bitterness. This is not what God wants.
The specific problem does not concern me that much, but I know that in every church and every move of God sooner or later problems arise. At first the leaders take it upon themselves to do the work - that is working the problem. Unfortunately leaders are busy people and it will happen that they can not attend to the problem at all times. Then the problem escalates….and obviously now there is opportunity for misunderstandings and so on because it might seem that not even the leaders care!
What is the responsibility of leadership?
Firstly get a good understanding of the problem. Do not be too quickly to find a solution by yourself. There is a community of believers now and you cannot afford to do it by yourself. But understand the problem fully before going on.
Secondly find the reason (if there is any) why it is your duty or not your duty to do that work (that is now the leader). To assign responsibility we have to start at the top. Is it your duty or not? In the case of the book of Acts chapter 6 the apostles reasoned that it is not their duty. Their duty at this time was the word of God (study), continual prayer and the ministry of the word (verse 2 and verse 4). Isn't it interesting that the apostles' main responsibility is spiritual? I love this! Don't think little of this for it is work and it will cost you your life!
The third thing is to get "buy in" from your church community. The apostles involved the church by saying that they must select the helpers or deacons to assist in the task of solving the problem. Too often the only decision maker in the church is the leader! This should not be like that!
The fourth thing is to give guidance to the process - the right quantity of people allocated to do this work is very important and is mentioned first. There is nothing so frustrating as to have too many or too few people to help in a specific task. The apostles also give guidance to ensure that the persons chosen must be the right people; they must be moral, spiritual and wise. I quote: - "honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom". These three qualities are cardinal - honest simply means I can trust the person (he will not steal for example); full of the Holy Ghost is exactly what it means - don't choose a carnal person! Lastly a wise person means to me somebody that is wise, yes, but also able because what can you do if somebody is not able to innovate and constantly worry you to make decisions and so on. I like to make a parallel to the work environment:- the reason for managers is exactly they must manage the work so that the leaders don't have to - they must make the decisions or innovate and they must solve the problem. This is where wisdom comes in! Wisdom is ability to do things wisely and with innovation. It is frustration to have somebody that can not do the task in a team and this person now must now be "carried" - this person is unable and not wise to the task. Meditate upon this.
The last thing that the apostles did was to give official sanctioning to the process. This is important because it informs the whole church as well as the apostles and there is also an impartation from the apostles - a spiritual act (seeking God's favor) which helps those who were chosen in the team. The Bible says that the apostles prayed and they laid their hands on them.
In my heart I believe that initially there might have been small problems in the organization of the work by these new chosen people, but they were able to sort it out. I believe they did and they also prospered at it for God blessed the church when they did this.
Spiritual leadership rightly applied cause church growth for in Acts 6:7 it says - "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
Leadership in the early church was very effective and the right roles were allocated to the right people. Whenever there are irritations or problems in your personal life, family, work or church (the work of God), it calls for leadership. Wisdom is needed and it is good to desire to do the things that God has intended for us to do, and not to be tied down in things that we should not do.
Remember that everything stands or fails (falls) by leadership