Message summary: Today I want to thank tent-makers like Paul, hose-makers like Luis and so many of you who are working hard to provide for your family and contributing toward others with your skill-set. Consider how Paul used this work experience to spiritually influence Aquila and Priscilla who later became a powerful ministry team. Ultimately God, in His providence, has positioned you at your workplace where you can influence others for the kingdom of God.

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"Because he (Paul) was of the same trade he stayed with them (Aquila and Priscilla) and worked, for they were tent-makers by trade" (Acts 18:3).

Today many begin another work week. We are slowing down a bit in our chaplaincy ministry to companies as we're phasing into a retirement pace, though we still visit with several hundred employees each week in a variety of work settings.

We have visited with Luis for many years who faithfully discharges his duties putting fittings on hoses for Kleen-Rite, a company that supplies the car wash industry. He worked there many years before we started visiting so only the Lord knows how many hoses he has made that many of us have unknowingly used when washing our cars. There are many products we use but rarely give thought as to their origin or how they were made, unless they no longer work for us!

Luis is only a few years younger than me so he is weary at the end of the week when we usually see him. But he's always pleasant and pleased to share about his many grandchildren. Last week his colorful hat prompted the photo and this message.

With so many companies striving to fill positions those who do work often have additional duties or hours expected of them so I often make it a point to express thanks to employees just for working. It seems to be a surprise to some, since my attempt to encourage is subject to being misunderstood, but is appreciated by others. (A few have initially taken my earnest expression of gratitude as being sarcastic.)

Today's text may be easily overlooked to get to the "spiritual" part of the record. In fact I am not sure I have really stopped to ponder its significance although I knew Paul was a tent-maker, a description often used for those in bi-vocational ministry.

Paul was a seasoned missionary at this point on his second missionary trip to Corinth.  He had just come from Athens where he encountered the "intellectuals" of the age and met a Jew named Aquila. He was a native of Pontus and had recently arrived from Italy with his wife Priscilla.

"Because he was of the same trade". This indicates Paul had previous experience as a tent-maker although it is not revealed prior to this. A trade is defined as a "a skilled job, typically one requiring manual skills and special training". Today we consider the vital necessity of those in "the trades" such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians, HVAC, mechanics and so forth. If they all stopped working life would quickly change as we know it!

"and worked, for they were tent-makers by trade". We know that Paul was highly educated for his time. In Acts 22:3 he testified, "I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors". He could have seen the job of tent-making as beneath his training and abilities, but there's no suggestion in the text that he had this outlook. I also consider that after his frustrating encounter in Athens he might have found it refreshing to be in the company of some common-sense hard-working people!

Today I want to thank tent-makers like Paul, hose-makers like Luis and so many of you who are working hard to provide for your family and contributing toward others with your skill-set.

Just consider how Paul used this work experience to spiritually influence Aquila and Priscilla, who later became a powerful ministry team. Ultimately God, in His providence, has positioned you at your workplace where you can influence others for the kingdom of God.


Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber