This post will be a prelude to several posts that will follow.
Here, I would like to take you to the farewell speech of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians.
But before that, we all know the importance of earning a living. It took me a long time to admit that a monthly salary will no longer hit my account at the end of the month when I resigned from my banking job.
It is the dream of every person to earn a living on their own.
The job itself may not have brought contentment to me, however, it gave me my much-needed financial pillar at the time. It was around the year before I resigned that money did not buy me all the things I wanted in life. There’s more to it than in life.
I wanted to be clear that money, to many, defines a person their status and everything in the societal setup. Thus, I also find my way to sustain myself through a few of my projects and the earnings of my family.
The Apostle Paul’s earnings:
The profession of the Apostle Paul is tentmaking. Since merchants were aplenty, it might have been a source of income, not too many, but enough to sustain his living. At the same time, if someone is as good and as dedicated in his craft, it is enough to support him.
After his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, Paul was commissioned by Jesus to be an apostle to the Gentiles. Acts 9
The Gentiles were the unreached people if we were to use the words of today. He did not get support nor draw a salary from anyone. Paul worked hard to provide for himself, dependent on the grace of God. He used his craft to earn a living and to look after himself in his ministry.
The importance of earning:
Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, knows the importance of earning. Thus, there’s hardly anyone who can complain about his ministry.
In his farewell speech to the Ephesians, he boldly expressed the truth as the need arose.
“I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. Acts 20:32-38
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Paul used this quote as a guiding principle in his life and ministry, emphasizing the importance of selfless service and generosity.
The phrase, it is more blessed to give than to receive, highlights that true fulfillment and blessing come from giving rather than simply receiving.
Earning and witnessing:
As we now know, the earnings of the apostle Paul gave him the liberty to profess his faith along his journeys. We can live for Christ in everything we do. As for me, I’m doing my bit in my place.
We may not necessarily be craftsmen, traders, or professionals. Yet we were to spread the gospel willingly in obedience to the living God. However, one must take due care and respect for our workplace and country, or place in doing so.
If the spirit of God brought a soul to us, one must be alert and ready to tell them about the way of life. John 14:6
Let them come willingly, not by any form of luring or coercion, for the kingdom of God is to the faithful and humble in mind and spirit.
#atmi
