Acts 20:33-35 – “I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
The dictionary defines ‘covet’ as the yearning to possess or have something. A person may covet the latest gadget, a friend’s car, and sometimes, even a colleague’s lifestyle. As Christians, we are well aware of the commandment, “Do not covet”, and we do our best to follow it. But in today’s verses, Paul reminds us how we need to go beyond that.
Here are 3 things we can learn from Paul through these verses:
1. Do not covet – We should not wish for something that belongs to someone else. If you are faced with a strong desire for something, take it to the Lord in prayer. Surrender it into His hands, and He will give you something better to ease your longing.
2. Take care of yourself – Paul did not depend on anyone else for his upkeep. He worked hard and supported himself. Too often, we take a backseat and expect everyone else to take care of our needs. That is not Biblical. God has blessed you to be able to take care of your own needs.
3. Give to those in need – Paul ministered to the needs of those who were with him. He was not selfish; He gave out of what He had. God has blessed you physically, financially and spiritually. Pass on that blessing to someone else who may be weak in the body, mind or soul.
When we share our blessings with others, it leaves room for God to pour out more blessings into our lives. May you be richly blessed!
