Tentmakers

Acts 18:1-3 NLT
(1) Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
(2) There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome.
(3) Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.

We, being children of God are called to be tentmakers as Paul was for several reasons. First because we are to work for a living, being idle brings about selfishness, laziness, and a judgmental attitude but there is more to it than that.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 NLT
(10) Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: "Those unwilling to work will not get to eat."
(11) Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people's business.
(12) We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.

Many pre-Christians today know of someone who refers to themselves as being a “Christian” and the one that acts the least like Christ is usually the one set as the standard by which all other followers of Christ are judged. People do not go to church because they are afraid of being judged or they see the church building as a place that harbors hypocrites. Whatever the reason it’s no wonder the world builds up a defense whenever someone mentions the Bible. The true followers of Christ know this is a snare from the enemy of God so people will turn from the truth and we know that the truth will break their chains of bondage which they so desperately want to be rid of but the question is what do we do about it? Paul used tent making not only to support himself but also to spread the Good News of the Gospel. Though many rejected Jesus as the Christ whom they had not seen they could not reject or deny the change that had taken place in Paul’s life, who was Saul. It was the power of his testimony bearing witness to the change in his life that attracted others to Christ Jesus, even though initially they would have rejected Jesus because of what others had said about him.

All who follow Christ Jesus faithfully are tentmakers in one way or another and we know that we are not to beat pre-Christians over the head with the Bible hoping to see them submit but instead it is by working with them as we make a living, allowing them to watch us live out what it means to be a follower of Christ Jesus, and to offer our testimony as God’s Holy Spirit leads us. As tentmakers we come alongside them and show them the way rather than simply telling them the way. This is the meaning of true leadership, just as those who have gone before us and taught us right from wrong so are we to show the way to others who have not yet believed.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 NLT
(13) As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.