Bible passage:
Acts 18: 1-4 - After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks
1 Thess 2:9 - For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
2 Thess 3:7,8 - For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.
POSSIBLE: If Paul balanced tentmaking and church planting, then we should also be able to be a tentmaker and also have secular jobs that provide us with opportunities to meet people, finances to be independent, share our witness and faith, and live a Godly life.
MANDATED: Adam was a gardener, David was a shepherd, Jesus was a carpenter, Peter was a fisherman who became a fisher of men, and Paul was a tentmaker. Whatever be our occupation, we are mandated by God to spread His good news to those around us - whether we are in mission fields, or in our workplace.
DESIRABLE: Tentmaking is at times tiring. It may result in delayed or denied promotions. It may result in alienation. It would also result in God being glorified, His church edified, and His kingdom extended. That is enough reason to rejoice and desire to intentionally be a witness in the marketplace.
Prayer points:
Pray that a Christian is a good witness in their working place. Pray that God blesses them with opportunities and people to invest in, share their faith with, and pray for.
Pray that a Christian remembers that the financial stability and security that receives through the job are from God and when they surrender to God as a tentmaker, they should be accountable to God regarding that.
Pray that they won't face persecution because of their faith. But, if they do - pray for strength and perseverance of faith.
Pray that God would make them salt and light in the culture and place that He has placed them in.
If you can, try memorizing 2 Thess 3:7,8.
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