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Self Help, With God's Help, Helps Even Others
By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
(Preached at 8th Graduation Exercises of Far Eastern Fundamental
School of Theology, Yangon, Myanmar, Jan 28, 01)
Text: Acts 20:33-35
I would like to speak particularly to you who
are in the graduating classes of Far Eastern Fundamental School of
Theology including the six in the M.Min. Programme, and to all
fellow ministers. My topic is Self Help, With God’s Help, Helps Even
Others. This is a very important principle which if you put into
practice delivers you from a financially struggling pastor to a
well-to-do one, able to help others. I do not give you a fish, but I
teach you how to fish.
The principle is derived from Paul’s injunction
to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:33-35, "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 have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye
ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord
Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Take note that the Acts of the Apostles is not
only a sacred record of early church history, but a Divine Pattern
for us to follow, inasmuch as the Epistles written by the Apostles
are Sacred Scripture, infallible and inerrant (II Pet 3:16) and
their preaching not their own words but the Word of God (I Thess
2:13). The Book of Acts is a Divine Pattern for us to follow, for
Paul commands us, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of
Christ" (I Cor 11:1).
Now when the Apostle Paul said, "I have coveted
no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel" (Acts 20:33), he was referring
to the financial help he received for his missionary work. When Paul
and Barnabas went on their first missionary journey they must have
obtained from the Antioch Church much support. And, we believe Paul
and Silas were liberally supplied also in the Second Missionary
Journey. When Paul came to Corinth the first time in the Second
Missionary Journey he ran out of money. In order not to be a burden
to anyone he attached himself to Aquila and Priscilla to work as a
tent-maker to earn his own livelihood. This was only for a short
time, for he soon left off tent-making and we found him preaching
full-time again. God apparently supplied his needs through new
converts. After the tent-making episode, we do not read about this
job anymore. Nor of his relying on the Antioch Church which sent him
on his missionary journeys. He had a noble spirit of self-support.
He never thought that the home church or anyone owed him a living.
He coveted no man’s silver or gold and apparel.
As young ministers starting a Church, or being
sent to start a Church, it is legitimate that you be adequately
supported. But, if you have Paul’s spirit, you will want to attain
self-support. You will not covet any man’s silver, gold, or apparel,
always looking to your benefactor. When cut off from your source of
supply, like Paul coming to Corinth, you will not blame anybody. You
will, with dignity, take a job to earn to upkeep yourself. You will
engage in your tent-making without grumble, working with your hands,
while continuing to minister to the people you have been serving. If
you do not look to others for your selfish gain, others will surely
support you.
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