Monday Meditation: Delegation of Work

Acts 6:1-7
“It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.”

Delegation or distribution of work: support work and the main event

This episode in the early church illustrates mature leadership. Not only do the apostils realize their limitations and acknowledge the problem before them they also empower a group of people to solve the problem so they can return to their primary task. This model is applicable to all group situations. 

First the problem was identified. All parties agreed about the basic problem. Everyone should agree about what the fundamental problem is before solving it. Communication is vital to solving any problem everyone should understand what’s going on and what tasks are assigned to them. 

The leadership then asked the people to identify the best individuals to solve the problem. After coming to a consensus on this they then gave their blessing and got out of the way allowing the appointed people to do their work.

Something I’ve observed: when people are not empowered or challenged to contribute to the solution they often become problems by complaining, sitting around doing nothing, or walking away angry.

In Christ all needs will be met however no individual can provide the complete answer. Church is collective response. Learn to be content with tasks assigned when God needs to move you to a new one he will. Be thankful for all kingdom work no matter how important it may be. However learn to know your main calling and be faithful to it. When a side project calls to you ask if there really is no one else who needs to be called forward into service, also ask yourself if it’s vital that it gets done. What is your motive for wanting this done?

I’m not in a position to delegate much at this point, however, it would be good for me to ask for “help” and practice assigning tasks so that it becomes second nature. Why? Because without practice I will have a tendency to hoard work and that’s actually kind of silly because the last thing I need to do is kill myself with work. 

When you find yourself saying, “The church should ___.” Ask yourself why she should, what is your motive for wanting this done?