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Acts 20:3 – Protected But Prepared
Paul, a former rabbi educated in Jewish religious and cultural ways was protected and prepared. After his spiritual conversion (or completion, as Messianic Jews speak of it), he instructed others concerning the correlation of both covenants. Somewhere along the way, he learned tent-making (Acts 20:3). Paul had prepared himself. More specifically, Paul had probably been prepared by his father.
Jewish fathers commonly taught their children trades or had them taught. Such practical “this-worldly” education would have complimented Paul’s “other-worldly” rabbinical teaching.
“Rabbi Judah says: `He that teacheth not his son a trade, doth the same as if he taught him to be a thief.” (Robertson, v.3, p.295).
Neglect of proper training leads to negligence of personal character. Both Hillel and Shammai – respected rabbin – were tradesmen, the former as a wood cutter, and the latter as a carpenter.
Herein is a valuable lesson for us: Parents prepare our children to provide for themselves, and for their families.
This applies to both sons and daughters.
Here is a practical question—When our children grow up and get married, can they provide for their families, or are they still dependent upon their parents?
Growing up, I knew that upon High School graduation, I had to continue my education. Not furthering my education was not a choice; so naturally it never even entered into my mind to stop preparing myself for future life challenges. My parents presented two choices: trade school or college. I seriously contemplated trade school in order to become a mechanic – cars have always fascinated me (and now motorcycles too!). But instead of learning how to be a mechanic, I decided to attend college. When I hear how much some mechanics make nowadays, I sometimes regret my choice! All of my parents’ children earned collegiate degrees. As my parents before me, I am teaching my children to provide for themselves – they will have no other option.
As parents, we need to engrave in our children a good work ethic. We need to teach them to be trained, to think ahead and to realize that tomorrow is shaped by today. We need to provide for them with more than just today’s material goods. As the old proverb says, give a man a fish and he eats for the day, teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime. Paul taught, for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children (2 Corinthians 12:14).
As parents, what are we providing our children? Are we protecting their future through preparation today?
This is not about learning a marketable skill, it goes much deeper. This is about learning responsibility. To be responsible is to be able to respond to life’s challenges. And above all, being responsible encompasses both the secular and the spiritual. God gives us our daily bread (Matthew 6:11); but while God feeds even the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26), He doesn’t put the worms into the nest! Paul leaned on his Maker, but Paul also learned tent-making. Pray as if everything depends upon God; work as if everything depends upon you, someone advised. God protects and provides; but we must be prepared for His blessings. This is a simple, day-to-day application of faith and works. God protects us as we prepare ourselves.
Learning to daily provide teaches our children a very valuable spiritual lesson that Paul also taught: But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8). There is no greater pain for a godly parent than to see their children reject God. Amazingly, God considers rejecting our family’s needs to be worse than rejecting Him!
After having provided for our children, they learn to provide for their children and subsequently maybe even for us in our old age. Retirement plans are not as assured as our children’s love should be for us. Paul also says, but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God (1 Timothy 5:4).
As chronological maturity sets in, our children can show their spiritual maturity by providing for us – if the need arises. But of course if as parents we have trained our children to be prepared, shouldn’t we likewise strive to prepare ourselves for our old age? Are we setting a good example?
All of this is only possible if we have prepared our children to become trained. Are we preparing to be protected?
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