the acts of the apostles-第48章

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first　fruits　of　all　thine　increase：　so　shall　thy　barns　be　filled　with
plenty；　and　thy　presses　shall　burst　out　with　new　wine。〃　Proverbs　3：9；　10。
Let　them　seek　to　retain　their　possessions　for　selfish　purposes；　and　it　will
be　to　their　eternal　loss。　But　let　their　treasure　be　given　to　God；　and　from
that　moment　it　bears　His　inscription。　It　is　sealed　with　His　immutability。

God　declares；　〃Blessed　are　ye　that　sow　beside　all　waters。〃　Isaiah　32：20。　A
continual　imparting　of　God's　gifts　wherever　the　cause　of　God　or　the　needs　of
humanity　demand　our　aid；　does　not　tend　to　poverty。　〃There　is　that
scattereth；　and　yet　increaseth；　and　there　is　that　withholdeth　more　than　is
meet；　but　it　tendeth　to　poverty。〃　Proverbs　11：24。　The　sower　multiplies　his
seed　by　casting　it　away。　So　it　is　with　those　who　are　faithful　in
distributing　God's　gifts。　By　imparting　they　increase　their　blessings。　〃Give；
and　it　shall　be　given　unto　you；〃　God　has　promised；　〃good　measure；　pressed
down；　and　shaken　together；　and　running　over；　shall　men　give　into　your
bosom。〃　Luke　6：38。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　33

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Laboring　Under　Difficulties


While　Paul　was　careful　to　set　before　his　converts　the　plain　teaching　of
Scripture　regarding　the　proper　support　of　the　work　of　God；　and　while　he
claimed　for　himself　as　a　minister　of　the　gospel　the　〃power　to　forbear
working〃　（1　Corinthians　9：6）　at　secular　employment　as　a　means　of
self…support；　yet　at　various　times　during　his　ministry　in　the　great　centers
of　civilization　he　wrought　at　a　handicraft　for　his　own　maintenance。

Among　the　Jews　physical　toil　was　not　thought　strange　or　degrading。　Through
Moses　the　Hebrews　had　been　instructed　to　train　their　children　to　industrious
habits；　and　it　was　regarded　as　a　sin　to　allow　the　youth　to　grow　up　in
ignorance　of　physical　labor。　Even　though　a　child　was　to　be　educated　for　holy
office；　a　knowledge　of　practical　life　was　thought　essential。　Every　youth；
whether　his　parents　were　rich　or　poor；　was　taught　some　trade。　Those　parents
who　neglected　to　provide　such　a　training　for　their　children　were　looked　upon
as　departing　from　the　instruction　of　the

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Lord。　In　accordance　with　this　custom；　Paul　had　early　learned　the　trade　of
tentmaking。

Before　he　became　a　disciple　of　Christ；　Paul　had　occupied　a　high　position　and
was　not　dependent　upon　manual　labor　for　support。　But　afterward；　when　he　had
used　all　his　means　in　furthering　the　cause　of　Christ；　he　resorted　at　times
to　his　trade　to　gain　a　livelihood。　Especially　was　this　the　case　when　he
labored　in　places　where　his　motives　might　have　been　misunderstood。

It　is　at　Thessalonica　that　we　first　read　of　Paul's　working　with　his　hands　in
self…supporting　labor　while　preaching　the　word。　Writing　to　the　church　of
believers　there；　he　reminded　them　that　he　〃might　have　been　burdensome〃　to
them；　and　added：　〃Ye　remember；　brethren；　our　labor　and　travail：　for　laboring
night　and　day；　because　we　would　not　be　chargeable　unto　any　of　you；　we
preached　unto　you　the　gospel　of　God。〃
1　Thessalonians　2：6；　9。　And　again；　in　his　second　epistle　to
them；　he　declared　that　he　and　his　fellow　laborer　while　with　them　had　not
eaten　〃any　man's　bread　for　nought。〃　Night　and　day　we　worked；　he　wrote；　〃that
we　might　not　be　chargeable　to　any　of　you：　not　because　we　have　not　power；　but
to　make　ourselves　an　ensample　unto　you　to　follow　us。〃　2　Thessalonians　3：8；
9。

At　Thessalonica　Paul　had　met　those　who　refused　to　work　with　their　hands。　It
was　of　this　class　that　he　afterward　wrote：　〃There　are　some　which　walk　among
you　disorderly；　working　not　at　all；　but　are　busybodies。　Now　them　that　are
such　we　command　and　exhort　by　our　Lord　Jesus　Christ；　that

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with　quietness　they　work；　and　eat　their　own　bread。〃　While　laboring　in
Thessalonica；　Paul　had　been　careful　to　set　before　such　ones　a　right　example。
〃Even　when　we　were　with　you；〃　he　wrote；　〃this　we　commanded　you；　that　if　any
would　not　work；　neither　should　he　eat。〃　Verses　11；　12；　10。

In　every　age　Satan　has　sought　to　impair　the　efforts　of　God's　servants　by
introducing　into　the　church　a　spirit　of　fanaticism。　Thus　it　was　in　Paul's
day；　and　thus　it　was　in　later　centuries　during　the　time　of　the　Reformation。
Wycliffe；　Luther；　and　many　others　who　blessed　the　world　by　their　influence
and　their　faith；　encountered　the　wiles　by　which　the　enemy　seeks　to　lead　into
fanaticism　overzealous；　unbalanced；　and　unsanctified　minds。　Misguided　souls
have　taught　that　the　attainment　of　true　holiness　carries　the　mind　above　all
earthly　thoughts　and　leads　men　to　refrain　wholly　from　labor。　Others；　taking
extreme　views　of　certain　texts　of　Scripture；　have　taught　that　it　is　a　sin　to
workthat　Christians　should　take　no　thought　concerning　the　temporal　welfare
of　themselves　or　their　families；　but　should　devote　their　lives　wholly　to
spiritual　things。　The　teaching　and　example　of　the　apostle　Paul　are　a　rebuke
to　such　extreme　views。

Paul　was　not　wholly　dependent　upon　the　labor　of　his　hands　for　support　while
at　Thessalonica。　Referring　later　to　his　experiences　in　that　city；　he　wrote
to　the　Philippian　believers　in　acknowledgment　of　the　gifts　he　had　received
from　them　while　there；　saying；　〃Even　in　Thessalonica　ye　sent　once　and　again
unto　my　necessity。〃　Philippians　4：16。　Notwithstanding　the　fact　that　he
received　this　help　he　was

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careful　to　set　before　the　Thessalonians　an　example　of　diligence；　so　that
none　could　rightfully　accuse　him　of　covetousness；　and　also　that　those　who
held　fanatical　views　regarding　manual　labor　might　be　given　a　practical
rebuke。

When　Paul　first　visited　Corinth；　he　found　himself　among　a　people　who　were
suspicious　of　the　motives　of　strangers。　The　Greeks　on　the　seacoast　were　keen
traders。　So　long　had　they　trained　themselves　in　sharp　business　practices；
that　they　had　come　to　believe　that　gain　was　godliness；　and　that　to　make
money；　whether　by　fair　means　or　foul；　was　commendable。　Paul　was　acquainted
with　their　characteristics；　and　he　would　give　them　no　occasion　for　saying
that　he　preached　the　gospel　in　order　to　enrich　himself。　He　might　justly　have
claimed　support　from　his　Corinthian　hearers；　but　this　right　he　was　willing
to　forgo；　lest　his　usefulness　and　success　as　a　minister　should　be　injured　by
the　unjust　suspicion　that　he　was　preaching　the　gospel　for　gain。　He　would
seek　to　remove　all　occasion　for　misrepresentation；　that　the　force　of　his
message　might　not　be　lost。

Soon　after　his　arrival　at　Corinth；　Paul　found　〃a　certain　Jew　named　Aquila；
born　in　Pontus；　lately　come　from　Italy；　with　his　wife　Priscilla。〃　These　were
〃of　the　same　craft〃　with　himself。　Banished　by　the　decree　of　Claudius；　which
commanded　all　Jews　to　leave　Rome；　Aquila　and　Priscilla　had　come　to　Corinth；
where　they　established　a　business　as　manufacturers　of　tents。　Paul　made
inquiry　concerning　them；　and　learning　that　they　feared　God　and　were　seeking
to　avoid　the　contaminating　influences　with　which　they　were

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surrounded；　〃he　abode　with　them；　and　wrought。　。　。　。　And　he　reasoned　in　the
synagogue　every　Sabbath；　and　persuaded　the　Jews　and　the　Greeks。〃　Acts
18：2…4。

Later；　Silas　and　Timothy　joined　Paul　at　Corinth。　These　brethren　brought　with
them　funds　from　the　churches　in　Macedonia；　for　the　support　of　the　work。

In　his　second　letter　to　the　believers　in　Corinth；　written　after　he　had
raised　up　a　strong　church　there；　Paul　reviewed　his　manner　of　life　among
them。　〃Have　I　committed　an　offense；〃　he　asked；　〃in　abasing　myself　that　ye
might　be　exalted；　because　I　have　preached　to　you　the　gospel　of　God　freely？　I
robbed　other　churches；　taking　wages　of　them；　to　do　you　service。　And　when　I
was　present　with　you；　and　wanted；　I　was　chargeable　to　no　man：　for　that　which
was　lacking　to　me　the　brethren　which　came　from　Macedonia　supplied：　and　in
all　things　I　have　kept　myself　from　being　burdensome　unto　you；　and　so　will　I
keep　myself。　As　the　truth　of　Christ　is　in　me；　no　man　shall　stop　me　of　this
boasting　in　the　regions　of　Achaia。〃　2　Corinthians　11：7…10。

Paul　tells　why　he　had　followed　this　course　in　Corinth。　It　was　that　he　might
give　no　cause　for　reproach　to　〃them　which　desire　occasion。〃　2　Corinthians
11：12。　While　he　had　worked　at　tentmaking　he　had　also　labored　faithfully　in
the　proclamation　of　the　gospel。　He　himself　declares　of　his　labors；　〃Truly
the　signs　of　an　apostle　were　wrought　among　you　in　all　patience；　in　signs；
and　wonders；　and　mighty　deeds。〃　And　he　adds；　〃For　what　is　it　wherein　ye　were
inferior　to　other　churches；　except　it　be　that　I　myself　was　not　burdensome　to
you？　Forgive　me　this　wrong。　Behold；

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the　third　time　I　am　ready　to　come　to　you；　and　I　will　not　be　burdensome　to
you：　for　I　seek　not　yours；　but　you。　。　。　。　And　I　will　very　gladly　spend　and
be　spent　for　you。〃　2　Corinthians　12：12…15。

During　the　long　period　of　his　ministry　in　Ephesus；　where　for　three　years　he
carried　forward　an　aggressive　evangelistic　effort　throughout　that　region；
Paul　again　worked　at　his　trade。　In　Ephesus；　as　in　Corinth；　the　apostle　was
cheered　by　the　presence　of　Aquila　and　Priscilla；　who　had　accompanied　him　on
his　return　to　Asia　at　the　close　of　his　second　missionary　journey。

There　were　some　who　objected　to　Paul's　toiling　with　his　hands；　declaring
that　it　was　inconsistent　with　the　work　of　a　gospel　minister。　Why　should
Paul；　a　minister　of　the　highest　rank；　thus　connect　mechanical　work　with　the
preaching　of　the　word？　Was　not　the　laborer　worthy　of　his　hire？　Why　should　he
spend　in　making　tents　time　that　to　all　appearance　could　be　put　to　better
account？

But　Paul　did　not　regard　as　lost　the　time　thus　spent。　As　he　worked　with
Aquila　he　kept　in　touch　with　the　Great　Teacher；　losing　no　opportunity　of
witnessing　for　the　Saviour；　and　of　helping　those　who　needed　help。　His　mind
was　ever　reaching　out　for　spiritual　knowledge。　He　gave　his　fellow　workers
instruction　in　spiritual　things；　and　he　also　set　an　example　of　industry　and
thoroughness。　He　was　a　quick；　skillful　worker；　diligent　in　business；
〃fervent　in　spirit；　serving　the　Lord。〃　Romans　12：11。　As　he　worked　at　his
trade；　the　apostle　had　access　to　a　class　of　people　that　he　could　not
otherwise　have　reached。　He　showed　his　associates

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that　skill　in　the　common　arts　is　a　gift　from　God；　who　provides　both　the　gift
and　the　wisdom　to　use　it　aright。　He　taught　that　even　in　everyday　toil　God　is
to　be　honored。　His　toil…hardened　hands　detracted　nothing　from　the　force　of
his　pathetic　appeals　as　a　Christian　minister。

Paul　sometimes　worked　night　and　day；　not　only　for　his　own　support；　but　that
he　might　assist　his　fellow　laborers。　He　shared　his　earnings　with　Luke；　and
he　helped　Timothy。　He　even　suffered　hunger　at　times；　that　he　might　relieve
the　necessities　of　others。　His　was　an　unselfish　life。　Toward　the　close　of
his　ministry；　on　the　occasion　of　his　farewell　talk　to　the　elders　of　Ephesus；
at　Miletus；　he　could　lift　up　before　them　his　toilworn　hands；　and　say；　〃I
have　coveted　no　man's　silver；　or　gold；　or　apparel。　Yea；　ye　yourselves　know；
that　these　hands　have　ministered　unto　my　necessities；　and　to　them　that　were
with　me。　I　ha