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A SINGLE HEART (III)
SATURDAY, MAY 22
Acts 6:1-7

Colossians 3:12-16

 

“It is not reason that we should leave

the word of God…”

 

A SINGLE HEART (III)
 
Helps to a single heart. If in any community of people (of any significant size) strife and conflict are inevitable, we must seek to discover how such potential for division should be met in the context of the local church. How may we work toward that “singleness of heart” (Acts 2:46) which is meant to be our ideal?
 
It will be helpful for us, in the first place, to go back to that initial eruption of disagreement, and consider how the Apostles dealt with it. We find in the first place that they took the matter seriously: they did not simply ignore it, or dismiss it as an exaggeration on the part of the Grecians. They called for “seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom,” whom they could “appoint over this business” (Acts 6:3). They prayed for these men, and “laid their hands on them” (v 6). We need to recognise that not all complaints are frivolous! Some may be legitimate, and all should at least be considered rather than dismissed out of hand.
 
In the second place, however, they refused to allow this controversy to distract them from “prayer, and… the ministry of the word” (v 4). When the Apostles “called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables” (v 2), they were expressing an important truth to which we would do well to take heed. Controversies, disagreements, complaints, accusations ‒ these certainly need to be dealt with if the church is to be united. But it does not help the unity of the church if undue focus is placed on these things that prayer and the ministry of the Word are neglected! Indeed, that “singleness of heart” toward which we aspire does not come through the human effort of solving every difficulty as it arises. Instead, it comes as each heart is ministered to by the faithful preaching of Scripture, and strengthened by earnest intercessory prayer.
 
The apostolic example is one which we ought to emulate. Let faithful, qualified men be appointed to look into such matters when necessary; but let prayer and preaching continue uninterrupted.
 
THOUGHT: Prayer and preaching are means of grace: far more effective than worldly methods of handling controversy.

PRAYER: Sanctify us, Father, through Thy Word.

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