February 11th - Paul the Working Man

“I covet no one's silver, or gold, or vesture. You know that these hands provide for my needs, and those who are with me.” (Acts 20:33).

Paul was not a paid professional preacher. He was not ordained by a church or synagogue. He worked as a tentmaker, as did Aquila and Priscilla.

"...because of his being of a like trade, he remained with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade." (Acts 18:3)

Those who traveled with him most likely worked with him in making tents. It is interesting that God chose a working man to deliver the secret of the good news of salvation to humanity. Yet, it makes sense because tentmakers traveled around from town to town, and such persons would be ideal to share good news with the world.

"To me, less than the least of all saints, was granted this grace: to bring the good news of the untraceable riches of Christ to the nations, and to enlighten all as to what is the administration of the secret, which has been concealed from the eons in God..." (Ephesians 3:8-9)

Paul had no Church to pastor. He received no wages for bringing the good news about Jesus to humanity. There is no evidence that he built church buildings in the various towns he traveled to. 

Jesus Himself was an "artisan" by trade, making things with His hands. Jesus was kicked out of His synagogue and city for what he taught there.  

"...His disciples are following Him. And at the coming of the sabbath He begins to teach in the synagogue.  And the majority, hearing, were astonished...what wisdom is being given this man!...Is not this the artisan, the son of Mary." (Mark 6:1-3)

"And filled with fury are all who are in the synagogue, at hearing these things, and rising, they cast Him outside of the city." (Luke 4:28)

Those who listened to Jesus were the working class and despised people like the Samaritans...and they were the ones who recognized Him as the Savior of the world.

"Now out of that city many of the Samaritans believe in Him...we are aware that this truly is the Savior of the world, the Christ." (John 4:42)

Nevertheless, Jesus laid down his life for all of the sheep - and in so doing saved the world. 

"I am the Shepherd ideal and I know Mine and Mine know Me, according as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. And My soul am I laying down for the sake of the sheep. And other sheep have I which are not of this fold. Those also I must be leading, and they will be hearing my voice, and there will be one flock, one Shepherd." (John 10:14-16)

"And I, if I should be exalted out of the earth, shall be drawing everyone to Myself." (John 12:32)

"They took Jesus along, then, and led Him away.  And, bearing the cross Himself, He came out to what is termed a Skull's Place, which is termed, in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucify Him...He said, it is accomplished! And reclining His head, He gives up the spirit." (John 19:17-18, 30) 

Paul the tentmaker tells us about what Jesus "accomplished" on the cross for humanity. He says we were...

“...justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus...Who was given up because of our offenses...For the one not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God's righteousness in Him” (Romans 3:24-25; 4:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Before Paul the Tentmaker died, he told his friend Timothy...

"You, then, child of mine, be invigorated by the grace which is in Christ Jesus. And what things you hear from me through many witnesses, these commit to faithful men, who shall be competent to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

He didn't tell him to build seminaries or churches or any religious organization.  He told him to tell others the good news about Jesus, the savior of the world. Two thousand years later, a few working men still do.