SHRINES: Goodbook 09-17-13

Goodbook messages arrive every Tuesday and Friday with a Scripture reading and ideas for how to apply the reading in our lives. We are reading through the book of Acts. For additional Scripture reading, you can follow the Advanced Track.

Reading: Acts 19:24-26

24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the skilled workers there.  25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: "You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.  26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.

Application:

Ephesus was a port, and was one of the largest cities in the Roman world.  It was also famous as the center for the worship of Artemis (also known as Diana).  In Greek cult and myth, Artemis is the twin of Apollo, a virgin huntress who supplanted the Titan Selene as the goddess of the moon.

The Temple for Artemis was the largest building in the Greek world and considered one of the seven wonders of the world.  Like all religious centers, it attracted trade.  Potters and silversmiths made shrines and images of Artemis that they sold for profit.

The apostle Paul spent more than two years in Ephesus between 53 and 56 AD.  As a result, many people became followers of Christ, both in Ephesus itself and in the surrounding towns and villages. One side-effect of this was that the bottom fell out of the market in Artemis shrines.

Paul taught people about the one true God, the maker of everything in heaven and on earth.  He asserted that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.  This challenged the whole market for shrines.

Following Jesus often takes us in a direction that is countercultural – in a direction that challenges the economy and the gods of our culture.  The American culture pushes us to make more and spend more and get more.  God tells us that everything is a gift from God, and the blessings we have are meant to bless others.  The American culture pushes us to worship things other than the one true God – our career, our popularity, our appearance, our success, our possessions, our status, our power, our busy schedule, our income, etc.  God tells us that he alone is worthy of our worship and is the true source of our identity, security, provision, and purpose.

How is following Jesus taking you in a direction that challenges the economy and the gods of our culture?

Share your comments and application ideas…