When two of the leading apostles stood trial before the authorities, they took the council by surprise. Their boldness was unlike any they had seen before. To compound their worries, they took notice that the apostles had not been through a formal school of learning. The only thing they could make of it was that they had been with Jesus. Hanging around Jesus did not only confer boldness but also wisdom. The wisdom came to play when they had to deal with the problem arising from food distribution in the early church.
How we handle issues will determine whether problems are resolved or become aggravated. There are some lessons we can take to heart from the way the apostles addressed the food problem. Firstly, they did not casually dismiss the problem. One would have thought that Peter would sharply rebuke the complainers, and accuse them of being unserious and idle believers murmuring over ordinary food. Had they adopted that approach, the situation would have become worse. Problems require attention. They don’t get solved by dismissing them. Secondly, the apostles adopted a participatory approach to dealing with the problem. They called the brethren together to address the matter. Widespread consultations often produce generally acceptable solutions. Finally, in dealing with problems, it is important to establish priorities. The disciples established their priority and knew it would be out of place to leave their core duties of prayer and the ministry of the word for food sharing. Problems can be diversionary; so be wise and keep focus on the main thing.