After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth, and he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the Word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
Acts 18:1-5

Paul, the Apostle, named by Christ Himself to be one of His personal representatives, was running out of money. He needed a job.

God had called him to travel and preach, but there was no salary attached to that call. The Lord had promised to cover his needs, but didn’t say how. Paul went, simply trusting that God would keep His promise.

It was just like Abraham, whom God commanded to leave his home and go “to the land that He would show him,” but didn’t tell him where it was. Abraham went, “not knowing where he was going.”

Paul did have a marketable skill, so he found a Jewish couple who had been forced to leave Rome in the wave of Anti-semitism that was sweeping the Empire, and went to work in their shop. This was not only God’s way of providing for his needs, but as it turned out, Aquila and Priscilla became close friends, believers, and disciples.

When Silas and Timothy, whom he had left in Philippi, caught up with him, they apparently brought an offering for Paul’s support from the church there, so he was able to go back to full-time preaching and teaching. (Paul mentions in a letter several years later that of all the churches he had planted, the congregation in Philippi was the only one that sent offerings to help with his finances.)

God keeps His promises. How He keeps them is up to Him and He always has a deeper plan going on than what we know. Our part is just to trust Him and be faithful. Trusting His promises frees me up to obey Him.

Lord, You are constantly surprising me with new ways of keeping Your promises while fulfilling all Your purpose. You don’t ask my permission and You don’t have to explain Yourself. Thank You that I can just trust You; help me to concentrate on being faithful. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles