Priority of Prayer

Acts 6:1-4

The Hellenists were murmuring that their widows were being neglected at the table when compared to the Hebrew widows.  Table in Greek (τράπεζα-trapeza) either can mean table for serving food or a money table.  The apostles were giving charity to the widows by means of either food or money.  A case can be made for either of the items.  In either case, the Hellenists (Greek Jews) were complaining their widows were being ignored.

The apostles discussed the matter as they “called the multitudes of the disciples unto them..”, who were the heads of the Christian churches in Jerusalem.  They reasoned it wasn’t good for them to leave their preaching and spiritual ministering to serve the tables.  They asked the brethern to look for “seven men of honest report,…” to whom they would give the responsibility of this business.

In v.4 comes the main point.  They stated, “we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”  They first thing they would do is pray and how would they pray–continually.   I don’t believe continually means to always be praying.   When researching the word in Greek, it means to adhere to, to be attentive to, to persevere,  to be in constant readiness.  We should always be prepared to pray and that should be first on our list.

I want to leave you with two quotes, one of which I can’t remember the author.  I trust all of you will have a Blessed week.  Spend time in prayer every day.

We need to speak to God about men before we speak to men about God.

If Christians spent as much time praying as they do grumbling, they would soon have nothing to grumble about. -Anonymous