Is waiting on tables a ministry? (Acts 6:2)

What I don’t like about the translation is that it implies preaching is a ministry (which it is) but that serving the poor is not a ministry. To my ears, it makes “wait[ing] on tables” almost a pejorative.

Most translations keep διακονεῖν as a verb. For example, the NRSV writes, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.” The translation loses the sense of ministry tied up in the verb διακονέω, but it correctly keeps the idea of diaconia with daily service. The NLT almost makes service sound pejorative: “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.” Is that what caring for the widows is? A “food program”?

Notice the actual Greek word order. “It is not right for us to neglect (καταλείψαντας) the word of God in order to wait (διακονεῖν) on tables.” I understand that διακονεῖν is not being used with the full, later sense of a Christian “ministry” and that it has the flavor of its earlier usage to mean “wait at table.” However, I wonder if, to the ears of the original audience, the nuance of “service” would make its way into what it truly means to wait on tables for the sake of the poor.

Look at v 1 and its use of the cognate noun. “Their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution (διακονίᾳ) of food.” And then in v 4, διακονία is used of the Apostles' work. “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry (διακονίᾳ) of the word.” Both preaching and service are necessary ministries of the church; one leads with the word and the other with hands. As John Stott used to say, they are both “ministries,” and the only difference between them is that they are different!

Is preaching more important than serving the widows? I know the quick, evangelical answer is, “Of course it is.” But what is James’ answer? “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their time of trouble.” What was Jesus’ model? Do we see him giving a significant priority to preaching over helping people? I don’t think so.

Perhaps if the evangelical church actually learned this lesson we might have less pew sitters and have a greater impact for the kingdom, both in what we do and what we preach.

The issue is not identifying the calling of the Apostles; their’s was to preach. But for others, it is to serve with their hands. Both are ministries, and both are essential for the success of the gospel. At least that is Jesus’ model.