1Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed: 2shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily; not for dishonest gain, but willingly; 3not as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock. 4When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.
5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility and subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, 7casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
8Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings. 10But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
12Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you. So does Mark, my son. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace be to all of you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 2 The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
Friction will find its way into any church or fellowship. This is because those organizations are administered and run by people. God reveals a structure in this passage that shows how people can get along better and how He uses different individuals as His instruments to coordinate the work of the Church. A complaint arose when some members felt others were being treated with favoritism. In this case, a racial and social conflict arose. The Greek believers felt the Jewish widows were being favored at the expense of the Greek widows. This kind of thing happens today, and we can substitute different groups in the Greek and Hebrew slots. The Church was outgrowing the twelve disciples’ ability to manage things, and God had a plan.
There are two offices of the church described in the New Testament. The disciples were what are described as elders (or pastors or overseers), and the seven men of good report were the first deacons called to that ministry in the church. This construct was God’s way of making teaching the word the primary duty of the elders. In most Baptist churches, elders, overseers, and pastors are seen as the same persons performing the various tasks that they perform (1 Peter 5:1-2). God meets every need of the local church, and He includes the offices of pastor and deacon in caring for those needs.
So, reader, what does this have to do with you? God has a purpose for you in your local church. You may be neither a pastor nor a deacon, but God considers you as a needed cog in the gearbox that runs the kingdom. All believers are called to prayer. We should be praying about anything and everything that goes on in the church. You should be seeking God’s will to use you for any and every need that arises. There are meals to be cooked. There are kitchens to be cleaned. There is trash that needs to be taken out. Phone calls need to be made. There are home visits that encourage and strengthen. Multiple Bible classes need to be led. Some nurseries need to be staffed. Some hedges need trimming, and some lights need replacing. And money needs to be given. There are offerings of all kinds that need to be given to effectuate the work of the Kingdom of God here on earth. Seek God’s will as to where you might be needed and fill that need! For such is the Kingdom of Heaven.