Reacting to God

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

REACTING TO GOD

Acts 19:21-27

21 After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also." 22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer. 23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."

NIV

It appears Christianity was disturbing business in the area, especially for those whose business was making idols from silver. It is not clear as to how many silversmiths there were in town, or other craftsman, or workers, perhaps of gold. There were also workers of related trades, perhaps stone masons or those who man sculptures from stone. But the point is that their business was of primary importance. Of course this Demetrius was a clever man even bringing in the idea of the goddess they made all their money from would be discredited and robbed of her divine majesty. Of course today the silversmiths continue to make money with crosses instead of symbols of Artemis. Some people will always find a way in business to turn a profit from some form of religion, not that it is bad, but that is just the facts. So what can we learn here? Certainly we could consider the point of not putting business before God. Or not putting any idols before God. These men considered their profit making more important than worshipping the true God which Paul was preaching. We should be careful not to fall into that trap, or vision of life. Yes, we need to work, that is a biblical principle. But to store up profit, for personal pleasures, trusting in that income for all the needs of life, both the present and the future seems to have the same kind of mindset as those craftsmen did. It would be interesting if all the related trades and professions that make their profit from Christianity were threatened by a new faith. One that did not need church buildings designed and built, with all the fixtures. All the bookstores, music makers, authors, cards, and related religious items, such as Christian jewelry, statues, etc. All the Christian recording artists and the companies who make their music into sellable forms. The number of professions and trades is too numerous to count which make their profit from Christianity. What if some new god were to arrive on the scene and all this business was in jeopardy? How would people react? We need to be careful not to become entrapped with that mentality. God has to be the most important aspect of our lives. God does not exist so we can make a living, we exist so we can bring glory to God. Does he provide us with income to live? Yes. But all we do, all we say, should be for the purpose of bringing glory to him. It is about how we react to God which matters the most.