Serving God Like Superman

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.
(Acts 6:1-7 ESV)

Perhaps you remember the Superman comic. I used to watch the Superman movies with Christopher Reeve. This summer, there will be a new movie entitled Superman Returns. Here is a picture of the new Superman:
I don’t know if the new guy will be better, but it did get me thinking. Superman is the ultimate deacon. Deacons, as they were introduced in the New Testament, were servants. They came to the rescue of older widows in the church. They were the guys you called upon when you needed help. Superman was like that too. He served other people. He just did it in tights.

Clark Kent might be a regular guy. But let him put on the red and blue suit, and then next thing you know, he could do just about anything for you. (Now you can’t compare Superman to Jesus because Jesus doesn’t have problems with Kryptonite. Even Superman has his weakness.)

The same is true with deacons in the church. Just as Clark Kent puts on the suit and goes out to save the day by helping other people, deacons should too. Superman looked at the good of other people. Deacons should too. Superman went long distances (he flew, you know) to help other people. Nothing was below Superman. He took cats out of trees, stopped babies from imminent danger, and helped anybody when they asked.

We need more men in the church like Superman. We need more deacons who will serve God, no matter what the costs.