As Acts 20 draws to a close, Paul delivers his farewell message to the Ephesian elders. What stands out to me is what he does not leave them with. There is no strategic plan, budget meeting, or succession roadmap. Instead, he gives them two anchors that will sustain them long after he is gone.
First, Paul entrusts them “to God and to the word of His grace” (v. 32). He understands something we often forget: the Church is sustained not by human strength, charisma, or resources, but by divine power. Only God can establish, strengthen, and carry His people forward. Their confidence must rest in the Lord and in the life-giving message of His grace.
Second, Paul reminds them of the posture that should mark their leadership—selfless service. Though he had every reason to boast, he points instead to his integrity. He “coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing” (v. 33). Rather than seek personal gain, he worked with his own hands to provide for himself and to help others. His life reflected the gospel he proclaimed: sacrificial, self-giving love.
Together, these two anchors—trusting God’s sustaining grace and living with open-handed generosity—form a powerful legacy that Paul leaves with the Ephesians. Security is not found in what we accumulate or control. Our true inheritance is received, not achieved. God Himself is our security.
Paul’s farewell invites us to examine our motivations. Are we striving to gather more—more recognition, comfort, control? Or are we living open-handedly, trusting God to supply what we need so we can meet the needs of others?
When we are grounded in His grace, we are freed from the fear that drives accumulation. Like Paul, may we rely not on what we can grasp, but on the God who graciously holds us.