An Example of Hard Work

Acts 20: 32-35

I think it's interested that, as Paul was saying good bye to friends that he would likely never see again, he thought it worth mentioning that he was a hard worker. In this passage, Paul is saying good bye to the elders from the church in Ephesus, a church with which he worked for a number of years. They had traveled quite a distance to see him, and both they and he knew it was unlikely that they would meet again. You wouldn't think that would be the time to bring up one's work ethic. Paul's point is that he never burdened them by asking them to support him. "You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions." Why was Paul working so hard to meet his needs? "I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak" Paul felt that, because he could work, he should do so to free up the Church to help those who were unable to work.

Paul's example to the Ephesian elders is an example to us as well. I've blogged a number of times about the importance of working. Looking back at the posts from the last year, I think the importance of working if you are able is one of the key themes about work in the Bible. Not to gain fame, power, or wealth, but so that you are not a burden on anyone and so that you can help others. If you are able to work, be sure that you are. There are people who, because of age, a disability, or the economy, cannot work and need our help. But for those of us who can work, the Bible is very clear that we should be doing so.