Acts 20:30 - The Reward is Not a Following - It is What Jesus Gives

Being famous, like winning the lottery (or becoming a college football coach), is appealing. I suppose it’s easy for me to say all this about a “following” as I’m an ordinary man with a familiar name from a faraway Province with no “following.” But I believe this verse is worth pausing on before we move on to Chapter 21. It is noteworthy because of the eternal principle, as true in ancient days as it is now. The desire for a following is a deceptive desire from a person’s human nature that the devil uses effectively.

Like vicious wolves, False teachers distort God’s proper and sound way and lead people to shipwreck their lives - to eternal destruction.

As Christian men and women, let us not desire a big name and a prominent position. It seems so trite that it need not be said. But look at the modern evangelical church. It is led by wannabe popes rather than humble servant leaders. False teachers desire a following; their motives are not pure. They don’t want to please God. In doing so, they worship themselves. God tells us to worship Him alone (Revelation 22:9). And Jesus tells us He is God. He’s the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Rev. 22:12). Not only that, He tells us He is the Source of David and the heir to his throne (Rev. 22:16). This matters. It matters because Jesus, God, is the only one who gives eternal life. He is the one who will repay all people according to their deeds. Let us not follow the false teachers who seek to tickle our ears, tell us that everything we do is ok and that we need to follow them rather than the Savior. Do not seek a following. Seek to follow God and worship Him alone.

You see, Paul led by example and prayed with and cried with the Ephesian elders (v. 1) to mark the importance of who Jesus is and what Jesus did. And to show the love of Christ. Jesus Christ, our perfect, sinless King, sacrificed his life for his people. The secret to eternal life is through the cross of Christ, through the blood of Jesus. There is no other way.

So let’s take the King’s paradox very seriously: “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Paul explained and showed the elders that the flock is not there for the shepherd. God’s way is always the other way around.

The elders must guard themselves and God’s people. The elders must feed and shepherd God’s church. What a tremendous responsibility.

Paul’s example was for an elder to work hard and supply his own needs and the needs of others. The standard of the modern church is to tell young pastors and church planters to ask the flock to supply all their needs, give them comfort and provide for them. Yes, we can find scripture verses to say pay good wages and take care of teachers, but don’t miss Paul’s example here, nay, the standard of our Savior! The easy street cared for, retired upon entering the workforce ministry is simply not God’s way. God will never bless those with selfish ambition for a following - those using a title or position to get stuff from the church. Call it out and oppose it for what it is: greed, laziness, and selfish ambition.

The paradox of the King and Paul’s message to those of us who have the gift of leadership from the Holy Spirit says, “you must help those in need by working hard.” Be willing to give everything to the Holy Spirit, nay, give it all to Him and His people.

Our reward, our inheritance, comes from God. His message of grace is all we need.

Lord Jesus, please give us good godly leaders who will have a constant watch and care over Your people. And please point out anything in our lives that offends You and lead us along the path of everlasting life. Amen.

Sam and Ben (working to pay their way through college)