Growth in organisations always brings challenges.  It is not just about increased activity but the need to deploy people differently.  Everybody's capacity to take on more work is limited, so it is usually more efficient for skilled workers to focus on work which they will do best, and for managers to coordinate different numbers of people or projects according to their ability.  Moses was advised about this by his father-in-law (Exodus 18:13-26).

As the numbers increased in the Early Church to over 5,000 (Acts 4:4), they shared life together as one family (Acts 4:34-35).  And the apostles were spending much of their time coordinating the welfare programme.  Widows, without a family to provide for them, were glad that the believers supplied their food each day.  However, Jewish women seemed to have priority over the non-Jews, who complained about being neglected.  It was right to let the apostles know.  

The twelve apostles, including Matthias who replaced Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:15-26), decided to appoint seven godly men who were well known for their wisdom and ability to get things done.  The apostles did not despise the practical, social care work, but they could not do everything.  They knew their main task was to teach about Jesus, urge people to devote themselves to Him and to train the new believers in how to live the Jesus-life (2 Timothy 4:2-5).  So, they needed to spend time in prayer, discerning God's instructions and then informing the church.  Their priority ministry was to preach and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).  Without that the church would die.

The world is full of pressing human need.  It is right to share food and possessions; but that activity must never be allowed to eclipse the priority of sharing God's Word.  If people do not know how to find Jesus personally, their physical wellbeing may become an idol instead of a reason for praise.  If they are not saved, a long life is nothing compared to a lost eternity.  Christian leaders must constantly evaluate their priorities, appointing wise people to supervise social action, so that prayerful gospel ministry will not be hindered.  Compassionate believers who care for others should also be able to explain the gospel, so that their motives can be understood (1 Peter 3:15), because people are saved when they hear and believe the gospel (Romans 10:12-15).