Wants and Needs
Too many times, people tell us what we want to hear. Too few times do people tell us what we need to hear. As Paul makes his brief visit with the elders from Ephesus at Miletus, he reminds them of how he held nothing back from them. The man from Tarsus didn't simply soft serve a feel good message. He told them what they needed.
The Apostle Paul recalls that he "did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house" (v20). The literal translation of that opening phrase is "how nothing I did keep back." The verb here is hupostello. It means to hold yourself back from something because of the fear or concern of someone's reaction. At its root, it means to conceal under or behind something.
Paul remembers how he held nothing back from his Ephesian friends. He brought everything into the light. There is no doubt that he did so with both grace and truth. But he taught them the Scriptures robustly. He didn't hold back hard truth. It's important to remember that the apostle spent some three years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31). This gave him ample time to unpack the Gospel and tell them about Jesus.
Are we willing to build long term relationships in order to "not shrink from declaring" what folks need to hear. Not what they WANT to hear. But what they NEED to hear. What is profitable. What will grow them in their walk with Jesus. Not wants, but needs.
That's what Paul did during his time in Ephesus. He taught them both "in public and from house to house" (v20). In other words, he not only preached to large groups but lead small group Bible studies. During those days with the Ephesians, he preached in the synagogue (Acts 19:8) as well as at the hall of Tyrannus for another two years (Acts 19:10). In this pep talk to the elders, we see that there was also another teaching component. The apostle met with folks in their homes and taught them God's truth.
It's a reminder of the importance of various kinds of learning Scripture. As followers of Christ, it is imperative that we sit under biblical preaching on a weekly basis. It's also equally critical that we gather in small groups to discuss God's Word. Mark Driscoll calls this the "air war and ground war." They are both powerful components of winning spiritual victory.
Is there someone telling you what you need to hear? Telling you what is profitable? Are you sitting under challenging and biblical preaching? Are you involved in small group community?
It all comes down to wants and needs. Once the Holy Spirit gets ahold of us, we'll want what we truly need.
Created 4 months ago
