Acts 20:32-38. Paul concludes his speech to the Ephesian elders by commending them all to God's grace which is able to build them up and give them their inheritance. He reminds them that he never coveted their silver and gold, but worked with his own hands to see to his needs and those of the people with him. He showed them in all he did that one must help the weak by being willing to toil for them, remembering always Jesus' words that "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Then the Ephesian elders kneel down and pray with Paul, sorrowing greatly that they will not see him again, before bringing him to his ship.

There is a theme in Paul's writings and teachings about the value of work, and how one should be willing to work to see to one's own needs and to help others. Paul acknowledged that preachers and priests have a right to be supported by the communities to which they minister, but he himself never asked for that, and he clearly thought it better for the priest or minister to work for himself if at all possible. Paul worked his trade and took nothing from the places he went. He also later declared in a letter to the Thessalonians that one who does not work should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). This seems stark, but he was trying to get across the same point - work is inherently valuable.

Paul is trying to instill in these Ephesian elders, and in us, an appreciation of the importance of using our skills to learn to earn our own keep, and the value to us and others when we do so. Of course ministry and evangelization are valuable in and of themselves, and the community being ministered to should support their priests and ministers. But if the priest or minister is able to also work in the community, it adds new layers to the evangelization efforts and to the well-being of the worker.

When we work in a community, we become part of it in a new way - we become one of the people, united in their daily lives. This brings us closer to others - we don't see ourselves as talking to them so much as talking with them. Using the skills that God gave us also increases our own self worth - it is always more satisfying to earn what you have than to be given it. Also, when we work in a community and earn our own keep, and not "covet their silver and gold," the people there will know that we have no ulterior motive, it precludes any argument that a preacher is just in town to make money. So there are many reasons that Paul stresses the value of work, and if we are going to try to evangelize to people, we should take his recommendations to heart for our own good and the good of those around us.