IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE

Acts 20:31-35 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them, which are sanctified. 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 showed you all things, how that so laboring 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.

The apostle Paul had just emphatically warned the elders of the church of Christ at Ephesus to beware of deceiving false teachers. By comparison, he referred to these teachers of error as grievous wolves that would enter in among you from without the congregation, but would also arise from within among your own selves. They would devour members of the body of Christ and rob them of the spiritual blessings they had received when they obeyed God's call to salvation through Jesus Christ and were added to His church. Realizing how important it was for Christians to continually be on guard for teachers of error, Paul ardently warned them night and day with tears for the entire space of time he was with them, which approximated three years.

With the extremely important responsibility of serving God, Christ Jesus, and His church, as God's word instructs them, Paul commends these elders of the church at Ephesus to the divine wisdom and protection of Almighty God. In order to carry out the spiritual duties inherent in their eldership, they are to rely on the word of His grace, that is on the doctrine of salvation found in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and delivered to them by inspiration of the Holy Spirit through the apostles and other inspired writers of the New Testament. Certainly there have been, and still are this day, many inspirational speakers and writers that motivate you and build your intelligence, but only the New Testament gospel is able to reconcile you to God and give you an inheritance among all them, which are sanctified.

Looking further into God's word we know exactly who are sanctified. Paul tells us that they are Christians who have, through obedience, been baptized into the body of Christ, the church designed by God, and over which Jesus Christ reigned then, reigns today, and reigns forever more. Members of the church of Christ at Corinth were referred to as them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints (1 Cor. 1:2). A few chapters later, Paul also writes to them and tells them that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9). He then gives vivid descriptions of these sinners that will be excluded from a heavenly home. And finally Paul tells the Christians of Corinth: but ye are sanctified, (and) ...justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (See 1 Cor. 6:9-11). It was Christians that Paul referd to as being sanctified, and if they were obedient to His will, they would inherit the heavenly kingdom of God reserved for His faithful children.

It was true then, and is just as true today, that false preachers and teachers pervert the gospel of Christ for covetous reasons. They do so either to satisfy their inordinate desire for worldly wealth, self-glorification, public fame, or for all of these greedy personal lifetime obsessions. In order to draw followers to them, they disregard the truths found in inspired scripture and teach things that itching ears desire to hear. In total disregard for the souls of their hearers, they teach error in order to satisfy their own interests. Unlike the characteristics of false preachers and teachers, Paul coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. He labored with his own hands to satisfy his necessities, as well as those of his fellow laborers in Christ. This was the example he left them, that so laboring ye ought to support the weak. And this truth Paul reinforced with the earthly teaching of Jesus Christ. Although these exact words are not found in Holy Scriptures, the true intent is found throughout the personal teaching and ministry of our Lord while here on earth: It is more blessed to give than to receive (See Matt. 25:34-40; Luke 14:12-14; 2 Cor. 8:9).

Without any doubt, the apostle Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, is telling us, as teachers of the gospel message of Christ Jesus, to follow his example and abhor the covetous example of false teachers.