Monday, June 6 – Acts 6:1-4

Now at this time, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Instead, brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Have you ever felt spread thin by the number of responsibilities you have? Sometimes this causes us to shift from doing a few things well to many things “okay” or even poorly. At the time of these events, the Hellenistic widows were falling through the cracks because the leadership was overwhelmed with responsibility. Instead of committing to work harder or asking the widows to suck it up, the disciples recognized their biblical calling toward the widows, acknowledged their limits, and planned so others would have an opportunity to serve and fulfill this calling of God. This required being committed to God’s Word and admitting their own weakness and others’ strengths.

If we are not careful as we serve, it can feel like we are the answer to every problem and the only ones who know how to respond to a need. As this continues, we get spread so thin that we are no longer serving for God’s glory but for our own accomplishment. Asking for help and stepping back to focus on the areas God has gifted you specifically in this season requires courage and humility. God has designed you with gifts and limits. When we submit to Him and serve Him, we don’t have to do it all. We can trust Him, pray for others to find their calling, and ask God to help us see our limits to remind us that He is God, and we are not.

• What are some limits you have recognized in yourself?
• How do our limits point us to God?
• Pray and ask God to show you where you need to help someone who is more limited in this season or where you need to ask for help from others in your limits.