Act 19:24-25 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
I can image Demetrius getting up each morning to head to his silversmith shop day after day like any other hard working father, and husband. He probably had some of the same concerns for supplying for his family, and meeting the needs of his customers. He probably was not an "evil" man who wanted anybody hurt in normal situtations. It even is not unusual to see his response to the new threat of the Apostle Paul and this different belief could effect his business. To Demetrius this threat would make the need for his merchandise useless.
Progress has had and effect on the job market even in our day, but what we really need to notice about Demetrius and those in his profession was that their threat was not from industrial progress. No one was coming up with a new way of shaping metal. Their threat was from being on the wrong side of God for so long. Year after year they profitted from idolatry and making idols to meet that need. Then all the sudden Paul shows up and the need for idols drops like a stockmarket crash. Now instead of seeing the error of his ways he goes on the attack to defend his livelihood.
Today, we may not be involved in idol making, or gross sin, but what about the methods we use to meet make us effective on the job. Do we cut corners, manipulate, gossip, envy, or covet? The list could go on. The idea here is what is the manner or method that we use to gain our wealth. Wealth is no more wrong that having the ability to mold a statue. But how are we making and using that ability to prosper.
Bob Blair
