The Lodestar

Paul’s meeting with the elders of the church in Ephesus is a remarkable event in the Book of Acts (Acts 20:17—38). That meeting was emotionally charged; they all cried as Paul said bye to them. “And when he had said these things, he knelt and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship” (Acts 20:36—38).

This speech at the harbour of Miletus is unique as it is the only speech of Paul to Christians. All the speeches of Paul recorded in Acts were to non-Christians. This is also unique in its content, as he is handing over the baton to the leaders to continue the ministry he founded among them.

In his lengthy speech, he addressed many important topics, concluding with the importance of a proper attitude toward material goods (20: 32–35).

These words are almost the climax of Paul’s speech. Having detailed the spiritual aspects of Christian ministry, he stresses that a minister should work and earn to support the poor and economically vulnerable.

Paul always emphasised that work is an integral part of Christian life. He was proud that he worked with his own hands to support the ministry in addition to the unsolicited gifts from the churches he planted. “For you remember, brothers, our labour and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:9; see also 2 Thessalonians 3:8).

He advised that the new believers must change their ways in all aspects of life since they are new creations in Christ (Ephesians 4:17—6:20). In this lengthy discourse on the new life in Christ, Paul pointed out that attitude to work is an essential aspect of life that should also change. He made the startling statement: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labour, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Eph 4:28). There were thieves who had come to the new life in Christ, but they should know that the new life in Christ demands they should work and to share their earning with others instead of being leeches on the society.

The purpose of being a new creation in Christ is to save our souls and be channels of God’s gracious goodness. The believers are the medium through which the world experiences God’s goodness, like sunlight carrying heat. Christ-followers are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10).

Christ-followers have new reasons to work. It is not to earn money to spend on ourselves or to accumulate, but to be channels of God’s blessing to those who deserve it. Even thieves, who grabbed from others in their former lives, become givers rather than takers when they become part of God’s Kingdom.

Pray now: “Lord, make me a channel of Your goodness through my hands and heart. Amen.

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