Do What You Say, Work Hard and Be Blessed

Acts 20:35 – “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak.  And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “ It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Nothing better than having a role model who really does what he says we should do. Paul had a perfect role model in the person of Jesus, and he himself worked hard to become like our Lord.

In the previous verse Paul says that “his hands have supplied his own needs and the needs of his companions” (Acts 20:34).  It is not explicit what kind of labor he did with his hands, but for sure he worked hard for himself and for those who were unable to perform the same task, who were not physically fit, or were sick.

As an Apostle, “he did not covet anyone’s silver, or gold, or clothing” (Acts 20:33) but he fully supported himself and fully gave everything he could give to help his fellowmen and not be a burden on anyone. And before leaving Ephesus to go to Jerusalem, he encouraged everyone to help the weak and follow the example of Jesus who said “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

So do wholeheartedly, give wholeheartedly, help wholeheartedly, because everything we do, we should “do it all for to the Glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31), and when we stand before the Throne of God we will hear from the King “ I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:35-36)