Serving the Bread of Life

Sherry and I love to go out to eat. A good restaurant offers a win-win situation for all involved. The diners receive a delicious meal in a delightful atmosphere. The owner receives payment and offers a valuable service to his customers. And between the two, the waiting staff has the joy of serving both the owner and his guests, and receiving rewards from both.

Similarly, we have the joy of service and receive rich rewards as we work with our heavenly Father to serve the bread of life to those who are spiritually hungry!

Waiters in God’s Word

We can study God’s Word to see what it says about being ministers by looking at a Greek word that literally means to “run to serve.” This word for minister, diakonos, is found 30 times in the Greek New Testament and comes into English as “deacon.” The verb form of this word, diakoneō, is used 37 times and means “to wait at table.” And the act of “waiting,” diakonia, is used 34 times.

You can study these uses on your own. Click on each link  below to see all of these uses:

Uses of the Greek Word diakonos in the Greek New Testament

Uses of the Greek Word diakoneo in the Greek New Testament

Uses of the Greek Word diakonia in the Greek New Testament

A Few Examples

Here are few examples of those who ministered [diakoneō]: angels to Jesus in the wilderness when he was hungry, Peter’s mother-in-law to Jesus and his disciples after Jesus healed her of a fever, Timothy and Erastus to Paul.

But the greatest example is Jesus Christ.

Matthew 20:28:
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered [diakoneō] unto, but to minister [diakoneō], and to give his life a ransom for many.  

Who does the Bible call a minister or “waiter” [diakonos]?  Those who served food and drink at a wedding feast, Jesus Christ himself, Phebe, Paul, Apollos, Timothy, Tychicus, deacons at Philippi, Epaphras, and others. These all ran to serve others what God provided them to give.

Again, Jesus Christ set the standard for this kind of service.

Mark 10:43,44:
But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister [diakonos]: 
And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 

And what does God say about the act of ministering [diakonia]? How would the Father’s “want ad” read for such a position? Serving food to guests, like Martha; serving with Jesus and later serving God’s Word to the church, like the apostles; meeting physical needs, like the seven selected in Jerusalem; bringing financial support, like Paul and Barnabas; manifesting God’s power as a born-again believer; reconciling others to God as ambassadors for Christ; mending believers as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers; guarding those who will believe, like angels.

Just as every waiter has assigned tables to serve, so each believer has a ministry to perform at the Father’s direction.

Romans 12:5-7:
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 
Or ministry [diakonia], let us wait on our ministering [diakonia]….

Being a Good Waiter for God

Have you ever waited tables? Or perhaps you were served by excellent waiting staff. Either way the experience can be quite rewarding. Four basic requirements to be a good waiter are: knowing the menu, communicating it clearly, being ready to bring the order, and seeing that everyone is blessed – including you getting a good tip!

The best waiters are those who love their work and manifest that love as they serve. God designed our bodies to need physical food, and our minds to need His Word. God’s Word is the Word of Life that brings nutrition to our souls.

Jeremiah 15:16:
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

As God’s Word grew in the first-century Church, the number of disciples increased so quickly that help was needed to serve physical food. The believers worked together to solve this problem.

Acts 6:1-3:
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration [diakonia].
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables [diakoneō].
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Previously, the apostles were able to carry out their teaching and outreach responsibilities and also help with the physical work, the “daily ministration” regarding food. But the work grew so that it was not reasonable for them to “leave the Word of God and serve tables.”

The godly solution was to find other qualified believers, who were strong in wisdom, to help get the food to those who were hungry. The apostles would focus on getting the truth of God’s Word to the spiritually hungry.

Good Waiters like Timothy

Since God’s Word shows the connection between serving physical food and bringing His Word to others, let’s look at how the same four requirements are needed to “serve the bread of life” as are needed to wait tables.

Paul encouraged Timothy to be a “good waiter” of Jesus Christ, as recorded here in II Timothy.

1. ) Know the Menu – God’s Word

II Timothy 3:16 and 17:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2.) Communicate It Clearly – preach the Word always

II Timothy 4:2:
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3.) Be Ready to Bring the Order – be fully persuaded of your service (diakonia)  

II Timothy 4:5:
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry [diakonia].

4.) Make Sure That All Are Blessed – finish the course and be rewarded

II Timothy 4:7,8:
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Enjoy being a waiter for God, remembering that there are plenty of “tips” in this more abundant life today and also future crowns in that life which is to come!