Two Things Every Christian Leader Should Leave to His Followers
Acts 20:32-35 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
As Paul meets with his friends at Ephesus one last time, he believes that he will not see them again. As he prepares to say goodbye, he reminds them of two things that he is leaving behind. These are two things that I think every Christian leadership should give to those he leaves.
1. He left them with the Word of God. He was leaving, but he was confident that they were in the good hands of God and His Word. He was confident that God’s Word would build them up and help them lay up a good inheritance. It was not his words, his ideas, or his thoughts that they needed. Man’s thoughts would fade away, but God’s Word would abide and produce fruit in them.
2. He let them with his Godly example. He was leaving, but they could look back and remember how he showed them how to live out the Word of God. His attitude about money. His hard work. His generous support and sacrificial giving. All of these things made an indelible impression on their minds. And though he was leaving, they would be left with his godly example.
This is a great encouragement for those of us who are Christian leaders to think about the importance of teaching God’s Word and living a Godly life. Those things will make an impact long after we are gone!