But I want to look at verse 34. In context, Paul is parting with the believers at Ephesus – read the book of Ephesians…we’ll get there in a few months – and he shares some words with them that we do well to pay attention to. He says, “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities and for those who were with me.”
Now, this is the great Apostle Paul. This is the guy, along with Peter, whom the entire church at Rome which would become the Roman Catholic Church, is founded upon. This is him! And what kind of example does he set for us? Is Paul this gilded flower too delicate for manual labor? Is Paul the type of leader who demands others serve him so he can lounge around, barking orders, and never lift a finger as we see so many in positions of power – both government and religion – doing today?
Not a chance. Acts 18:3 tells us that Paul was a tent maker by trade. These weren’t little pop-tents, by the way. This was a tough job that required long days of physical labor. Paul, like Jesus his carpenter-Savior, was a man’s man. This guy could work and not only wasn’t afraid of doing hard, physical labor but went so far as to say that if you don’t work you don’t deserve to eat and offered his own example as the one folks should follow (2 Thessalonians 3:7-10).
So what does all this mean to us today? It means when we want to get an idea of what God’s people look like you’ll see the right emphasis on work as a necessity and not constant badgering for access to your finances. If you find yourself in a place where you keep hearing church folk saying “God’s going broke!” or you’re continually harassed for money, well, you can make the safe bet that that guy isn’t hearing from God and you’re crazy to give him your money.
Yes, we’re told to support the church with our finances (Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5:18) and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. It makes sense. When we see the leaders of the church using the money we give them in a right way we can know that we’ve made good decisions with our finances. But if we’re being hammered to give, give, give and there’s always a new thermometer up and there’s always a push for us to part with our paychecks, please understand that’s not God. That’s someone who wants your money, and in this chapter of Acts Paul will warn the Ephesian church – and us – to be on the watch for wolves who will come in and try to shake us down (vs. 29).
A leader who sets the example that Jesus set of serving those who followed Him instead of demanding they serve Him is the type of leader we should follow. If we’re born again then we’re to follow Jesus’ example and seek to serve rather than be served. Greatness in the kingdom of God isn’t like greatness in this world. Rather than desiring to have servants we need to understand God’s called us to BE servants. You’ll know someone belongs to God as you watch their life and you see their service to others. And you’ll know if you’re saved when you honestly evaluate how you measure up yourself.
God Bless,
Josh
