By David Shannon
Paul declared his main purpose in ministry: “to testify repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). As a father, Bible class teacher, deacon, elder, or other person of influence, can you state in one sentence your main purpose as a leader? Now evaluate to see if you are accomplishing your purpose or if you have lost your focus.
In the past two issues, two detours have been addressed that cause some leaders to stray from their godly purpose: tribulations, as mentioned in Acts 20:22-24, and false teachers, warned against in Acts 20:29-32. Greed (or covetousness) is another detour that must be avoided in order to keep “the main thing, the main thing.”
Paul Told the Elders to Consider His Example
Envision the elders of Ephesus sitting in the conference with Paul in Acts 20. He urged them to stay on track through having hearts, heads, and hands that were generous. “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:33-35). Paul had “shown” them how to labor and give. Paul was generous instead of covetous. He worked hard to prosper the kingdom. He clung to Jesus’ words that were never recorded in the Gospels, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Generosity and work ethic are two characteristics when intertwined into the life of a leader enable him to be a great resource to followers. Naturally, greed and/or laziness works against it. Many today may not consider covetousness or greed as tempting detours, but Paul wouldn’t let the topic rest! Please give this consideration. Godly contentment and honest work are the righteous solutions over covetousness and greed. Godly leaders believe the greater blessing is when they labor to serve rather than being served by others. Sadly though, how many leaders of homes and congregations recoil from intense labor if it is in the area of growing people, missions, or ministries? Yet, they will work all day in their yard or yield extensive labor to perfectly installing a TV in their man cave or pour great sweat equity into detailing their leisure boat or equipping their fishing boat, while giving minimal effort to spiritual growth or how to reach a soul. For example, they might not consider leading a soul winning effort simply because it requires continual labor!
Real-Life Example of the Danger of Greed
Greed endangered the lives of believers in Ephesus during the riot recorded in Acts 19. Demetrius, who had heavily profited from making the silver shrines of Diana, could foresee the financial threat of Christianity to his idolatrous business. William Ramsay, author of St. Paul the Traveller, wisely stated, “The most sensitive part of the civilized man is his pocket.” The effect of their greed was so powerful that it prompted Paul to leave Ephesus earlier than planned. Today, many leaders are detoured by their own greed causing followers to be greatly neglected or even used by these greedy leaders. This is why God’s leaders must not allow this vice in their lives. When Paul was giving the qualifications of future elders and deacons in Ephesus, he commanded that the man cannot be greedy for money (1Timothy 3:3, 8). Paul closes this same book by speaking of false teaching and greed in the same paragraph. Greed will cause a man to misuse his time, resources, and influence. Greed is a detour which begins when “trust” is misplaced: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1Timothy 6:17). We can either trust in earthly riches or in the Living God, but not in both (Matthew 6:24).
Lessons for Leaders: Many children cannot capture their father’s attention due to his greed. Many Bible classes have been taught by unprepared teachers due to their desire to fulfill greed trumping their study time. If a church is led by greedy men, the work of the church becomes secondary to their desire to accumulate personal wealth or possessions. In other words, they will spend all their time and energy building their own business and portfolios, while the local congregation grows apathetic and dwindles. Other greedy men have seen the church as another pool of financial resources using the directories as their database or the facility as another job potential. Every leader ought to ask himself the following question dealing with contentment and trust; “Are you content with your possessions you have today or with whatever increase the Lord sees fit to provide tomorrow?” Answer “yes” and you are setting yourself up to be a godly leader who every day and every week can be focused on the main thing!
Conclusion: Many detours are presented by Satan as ways to tempt godly leaders. The very best leaders may be the ones tempted the most. The man who can do the most to help grow the local church may also be the one who could build the largest business or personal portfolio. The question isn’t which will he do?  It is about priorities. Which will he allow to be first priority––the Main Thing? What about you?
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing! Don’t be detoured.