In all things I have shown you an object lesson—that by hard work one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Yeshua, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 TLV

Don’t Get Angry with Me, Please.    Today’s verse is another passage that has been misused.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

I, too, always imagined this meant we should all give stuff or funds or work. And that theme is valuable. However, it’s still not the original context. Because of that, it can be misused in dubious ways.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with tzara’at [leprosy/skin diseases], drive out demons. Freely you received, freely give. (Matthew 10:8, TLV, Emphasis Mine)

The context of today’s verse is Paul’s “Good-bye Message” to the elders of Ephesus. Like Yeshua to His disciples, Paul was exhorting them in their ministry. Paul called the leaders to Miletus (which at the time was a city in Greece*) to tell them he wouldn’t see them again. Therefore, as elders, they would not be able to rely on Paul’s visits.

What a sobering message. So as Paul imparted to them instructions on how to shepherd the new believers under their care, the leadership had to process a lot in this simple message.

“Take care of yourselves and all the flock of which the Ruach ha-Kodesh [Holy Spirit] has made you overseers, to shepherd the community of God—which He obtained with the blood of His own.” (vs. 28, TLV)

When Paul talks of leadership and shepherding and overseeing, it’s not like today’s concept of leadership, shepherds, and overseers. Paul was conveying an intense warning of what was to befall them as leaders and how difficult it would be to serve these precious souls.

“I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Even from among yourselves will arise men speaking perversions, to draw the disciples away after themselves. Therefore, be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning you with tears.” (vss. 29-30, TLV)

Like Yeshua’s instructions to the leadership before He ascended, the “success” of a leader would be the spiritual growth of the individuals, not the growth of numbers of individuals.

What did that mean?

What did that mean for the leadership? Work. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Intercession. Endless counseling and exhortation.

Nowhere does it mention what would be given back to them for all this hard work.

Now, within that context, let’s look at today’s verse:

In all things I have shown you an object lesson—that by hard work one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Yeshua, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (vs. 35, TLV, Emphasis Mine)

Having said that, Paul began this message with encouragement to the leaders that they take care of themselves (vs. 28). Then he proceeds to explain how difficult the work will be. Which is why we should all be praying for our leadership and encouraging them in their blessed, but hard work.

And for us today?

A ministry leader once said to me that he looked forward to all our hard work resulting in a private plane to make it easier to travel. At the time it didn’t sit right with me, even though it would have been nice.

I think we all—not just leadership—need reminding of Paul’s words: “that by hard work, one must help the weak.” Parents, grandparents, employers, mentors, those in political offices, first responders, the list goes on of influencers.

But it is important that the context of Paul’s word about giving was to leaders. The ones to emulate that hard-work-giving to their congregants were the leaders, rather than the other way around.

When the priorities are switched, leaders lose their blessed position as servants—as Yeshua was a servant. Leaders assuming that they are the ones to be served send the wrong message. When leaders assume their accurate role, the people will follow and be more giving.

Because their hard work is our blessing, we can then emulate that practice in our own lives.

Thoughts?

*The ruins of Miletus are located in Aydın Province, Turkey.