Simple & Great Tasks

 By: Joanne Viola

 

“After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 
And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, 
having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, 
because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. 
He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, 
he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.” 
(Acts 18:1-3, NASB) 

Paul leaves Athens to head to Corinth. A simple trip it would seem.

There he meets Aquila and Priscilla. They were tent-makers by profession. We don’t know if they were also believers, but what we do know is that Paul stayed and worked with them in their business. Paul reasoned and taught them in the Scriptures.

When persecution arises, Paul leaves for Ephesus, taking the couple with him.

They must have learned well because when an Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus, the couple realized he had some knowledge in the Scriptures. But his understanding was limited. They took him under their tutelage and helped him to understand the ways of God more accurately.

Tent making was a simple job during the day in which they lived. Yet it was a big task in the eyes of God. He used it in a more far reaching way than they could have imagined.

Each day we are investing in the lives of those around us. We may not see how or the effect, but we are impacting those around us daily.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 
And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 
There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
(1 Corinthians 12:4-7, NASB)

The simplest of tasks may be greater than how they appear to the eye:

• when we are working shoulder to shoulder in our places of employment,
• as we change diapers, clean up a mess, or pat the back of a toddler as they nod off to sleep,
• in the supermarket or at the bank,
• as we may serve in church,
• or even as we sit quietly at home praying for friends and family.

May we trust and not doubt for God has equipped each of us, with exactly the gifts needed, to encourage and bless those He has placed in our lives.

“We are each given different gifts and talents by our Master. The thing that matters most is how we use what we have been given, not how much we make or do compared to someone else. What matters is that we spend ourselves.” (Francis Chan)

 

Reflection: 
How do you perceive the tasks you do each day? How can you change your attitude or approach to these tasks to best use your time and gifts?

 

Image by Dorothe from Pixabay