Acts 6:1-7
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
This
is a classic church problem - organisation and adminstration of
neccessary practical situations threatens to dominate and distract from
the focus of the gospel. The disciples recognise that caring for widows is important and needs to be done and
organised effectively. But they refuse to let that, or anything,
detract from the mission of the church - spreading the good news about
Jesus.
Sensibly,
this tasks is delegated to other leaders. Interestingly the main criteria
for choosing these leaders is spiritual. They are not chosen
on whether they are skilled enough for the job (although they would
certainly need that), but the primary consideration is that they are men
of good repute (they are living the christian life), full of the Spirit
and wisdom and full of faith. Even if their "task"
does not seem "spiritual", the most important thing is their relationship with Jesus.