And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them and wrought, for by their occupation they were tentmakers. Acts 18:3
An old rabbinical maxim that Paul would have been familiar with states that ‘whoever does not teach his son a craft teaches him to be a robber’. Regardless of the direction a Jewish boy intended to take in his life, he would be taught a trade. This would have applied to Saul of Tarsus, despite his obvious early intentions to pursue a religious course in the school of Gamaliel. For two years, young Saul would have been apprenticed to a skilled tentmaker, and would have ‘graduated’ from that training with all the skills necessary to work with leather and the ancient form of canvas used in those days. Upon his graduation, he would have received a small pouch containing a set of knives and awls specifically for use in the tentmaking trade. There is every reason to believe that Paul would have carried that pouch with him as he set out on his missionary travels. His use of these tools in Corinth was very likely not the only time that he turned to his trade to further his Gospel work. His trade was part of what he brought to the work. And God used it, just as he uses what we are and have.
We normally think of preachers and missionaries living by being supported by the fellowship of the Lord’s people. But that is not always possible, as Paul found when he was in Corinth, and as he probably found in many other places as well. God had brought him to Corinth, and he was willing to use what God had provided him with to carry out his work for God. Tentmaking is not preaching or witnessing or teaching the Scriptures. But it pays the bills. And it also gives opportunity for witnessing and teaching while working. For example, there is no indication that Aquila and Priscilla were Christians before Paul encountered them. And yet, they became ardent followers of Christ and supporters of the Lord’s work, even becoming effective teachers of the Word. It would appear they learned all that as they fashioned tents in the company of Paul. Paul’s willingness to turn to his humble trade paid off in huge dividends in Corinth.
What do we have that God can use? The answers come in many forms. For example, my lifelong career as a writer is no doubt helpful as I write these daily devotionals. Your career, or even your hobbies, gives you skills that the Lord can use. You have experiences that give you unique insight into the needs of those around you, or into the opportunities for serving the Lord. Your presence in a workplace, or a classroom, or a community centre, can be used by God to expose you to people who need the Gospel, and can give you skills that will help His work.
Like Paul, we need to be willing to be tentmakers if the Lord can use it for His glory and His work. -Jim MacIntosh