Delegate, delegate, delegate!

Acts 6:1-7 describes the early church's first leadership dilemma; as Peter, James and the other disciples of Jesus are working to teach and pass on all they have learned from Christ, certain other needs are going unmet! This is brought to their attention and they make a decision that sets an important example for us all.

We are each called to certain kinds of work by God, and fulfilling our purpose according to Him means following that call and none other. While some may be called to seemingly thankless jobs (putting up chairs, for example), the importance of each believer's call cannot be understated. The twelve disciples did not pull names out of a hat in order to see food properly distributed; they prayed and considered the character and reputation of the men they chose!

Verse 3 says, "But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task." Yet, how carelessly and haphazardly we often select people to do things!

More importantly, how often do we as leaders choose to do them ourselves. Delegation is the key to good leadership. As we move forward in any kind of ministry, its spiritual leaders must remember to "work themselves out of a job" by passing on everything they can, and at the same time watching carefully over those to whom they have given responsibility.