Acts 20 -- Farewells and Warnings

Paul was beginning his goodbyes to his friends and fellow servants as he readied himself for the trip to Jerusalem which would ultimately take him to Rome and imprisonment.  What to say to his friends?  What had he not said that needed to be said?  Besides reviewing the past and giving a testimony of the present, my commentary particularly struck me about his warning about the future "of the dangers those early church leaders had to recognize and deal with if they were to protect and lead the church."

"There are dangers around us, wolves that want to ravage the flock ... false teachers, the counterfeits who exploit the church for personal gain."

"But there are also dangers among us, because of people within the church who are ambitious for position and power."

"There are also dangers within US, and this seems to be where Paul put the greatest emphasis.  'Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves.'  He names five sins that are especially destructive to the life and ministry of spiritual leaders in the church.  The first is carelessness, failing to stay alert and forgetting the price that others have paid so that we might have God's truth ... Paul's warning and weeping should be constant reminders to us to take our spiritual responsibilities seriously."

"The second is shallowness.  We cannot build a church unless God is building our lives daily.  There is a balance between prayer and the Word of God, because these two must always work together."

"Covetousness is the third sin we must avoid ... a consuming and controlling desire for what others have and for more of what we ourselves already have."

"Paul also mentions laziness -- Paul earned his own way ... (It reminds us that a worker is due his pay and that there is certainly no Biblical restriction on Christian ministers receiving salary.)  ...Christian workers should be certain that they are really earning those salaries."

"Finally, Paul warned about selfishness.  True ministry means giving, not getting;  it means following the example of the Lord Jesus Christ ... the blessing does not come in accumulating wealth, but in sharing it."

Father, please help us all to be watchful in our own lives to ensure that we stay clear of these sins as we serve You in Your church.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford