A Clean Heart (Part Six)

As we conclude our extended look at the heart of ministry and a clear conscience, we conclude by seeing that this doesn’t happen by accident. It is grounded in our own purposes for engaging in ministry to begin with.

Purity Through Right Motives (vv.32-35)

Nothing gives a clear conscience so wonderfully as knowing within your heart not just the “whats” of your life, but the “whys”. Paul expresses this kind of clear conscience as he pours out his motives—the driving, influencing “whys” that empowered the “whats” of his ministry.

A. Shares Personal Inability (v.32)

“I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace…” Do you see the point? Paul is telling them, “I have taken you as far as I can. I have done all that I can do.” Then, to the Lord, “Lord, they are in Your hands!” It is his same point as Paul saying that he was

“… confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” (Phili 1:6)

Alexander Maclaren put it his way…

“I commend you,” says Paul, “to God, and to the Word of His grace.” If we may venture upon a very literal translation of the word, it is, “I lay you down beside God!” That is beautiful, is it not? Here had Paul; been carrying the Ephesian church on his back for a long time now. He had cares about them, many forebodings as to their future, knowing very well that after his departure grievous wolves were to enter in. He says, “I cannot carry the load any longer; here I lay it down at the Throne, beneath those pure eyes, and that gentle and strong hand.” For to commend them to God is in fact a prayer casting the care which Paul can no longer exercise upon Him.

The point? Paul did not see himself as the all-sufficient, omni-competent solution for their needs. So, he places them in God’s hands, for only God- not Paul or any other man—is sufficient. So, Paul commends them…

• To God- what more needs to be said? He is able!
• To the Word- able to build you up, and give you an inheritance.

Christ is and must be preeminent in the church—there is no room for a messiah syndrome. He alone is adequate and sufficient.

B. Shows Absence of Covetousness (vv. 33-34)

• Not covetous of money (v.33)- silver, gold, or what it will buy
• Not afraid of work (v.34)- it is okay to work hard—it makes you more appreciative for the bounty of life! At the same time, even in the hardest worker, there must be a stewardship of time that is willing to give itself to the labor of ministry.

C. Shows Desire to Serve and Give (v.35)

“I have shown you all things”- the word is “pattern, example, model”- what did he model? “That laboring in the same way you should support the weak.” Do you catch his heart? He was not in it to get but to give. Why? Even the words of Christ (agrapha) tell it…

“… And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35.

To Paul it was about giving. Not Christmas-type giving. That’s not giving, it’s swapping. Giving that is blessed is giving that has no thought of what you get in return. Whether it be your time, talent or treasure—and it should be all three—you need to be giving of yourself in ministry; not to receive but to give.

Pure motives give a clear conscience, and it came to him the same way it would come to them—by being committed unrelentingly to…

God, and,

Word of Grace.

Paul has, in this final message to the church at Ephesus, offered concern, love, instruction, and warning—and Paul was right to be concerned for, even after these many repeated warnings, they did fall away! Revelation 2 was realized, and there is no substantial witness in Ephesus to this day. Their lampstand has been removed.

The reality of the failure of the church at Ephesus, considered by many scholars the premiere church of the NT, comes as a tragic reminder of how severe the results will be if we allow ourselves to drift from God. We must be warned, as leaders and as people, of the importance of ministry to the blood bought church—and make it count for him.