August 29, 2021: Use What the Good Lord Gave You
Acts 16:6-15
Rev. Rhonda Blevins
They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.
______
Teaser
Lesser known, my truth be it told!
Philippi, was head of household.
Baptized by Paul,
Impact, not small!
Purple goods, I bought, and I sold.
Who am I?
______
She wasn’t an apostle.
She wasn’t a man.
She wasn’t even a Jew.
But what she had, she used in service of the Lord.
Her name was Lydia.
Let’s get to know her!
Back in 2005 I took a denominational job in Kentucky. Part of my charge was to lead the “rural poverty initiative” in two of the poorest counties not only in Kentucky but in the United States. This was part of a larger initiative that sought to alleviate poverty in the 25 poorest counties in the U.S.
Part of my training for that work came in the form of classes in community development. At that time, back in 2005, the field of community development was shifting. At one time, the methodology employed to help communities was to go in and do a “needs assessment.” So social workers or whoever was doing the work would go in and take stock of all the things lacking in the community. For example: in the communities I served I could have accurately documented a scarcity of industry and job opportunities, of medical facilities, of skilled teachers and grocery stores. Then once all the needs are identified, you ship all those resources into the community from the outside. How do you think that worked out? Not great. This approach enabled instead of empowered. The long-term effect of this approach was to create more dependency on the government or NGO’s or whoever was propping up the community.
So community practitioners wizened up and started asking, “What if we take stock of all the assets in the community, and connect and empower people to find their own solutions?” So they stopped doing needs assessments and instead began utilizing asset assessments or asset mapping. This approach helps people identify skills and talents they have that can contribute to the greater good. This is how you build thriving communities!
Needs assessments begin with the negative (something is missing). Asset assessments begin with the positive (look at the strengths!)
Today in our scripture lesson, we meet a woman who seemed to know this intuitively. Lydia is only mentioned in the book of Acts, and we learn little about her. But here’s what we know:
Lydia was a businesswoman—a seller of purple. This one tidbit of information tells us that Lydia was wealthy. Purple goods were very expensive—one of the reasons we often see ancient royalty bedecked in purple because they were some of the only people who could afford such a luxury.
Lydia was originally from Thyatira but was living in Philippi when she met Paul and his travel companions on his second missionary journey. Archaeologists have found evidence of a dyers’ guild in Thyatira, famous for its indigo trade. Perhaps Lydia had connections to dyers in her hometown, bought purple goods there, and sold them in her new city, Philippi, one of largest Macedonian cities at that time.
Lydia was the head of household, which means she wasn’t married. We don’t know if she was widowed, divorced or never married, but we are told by the writer of Acts (perhaps Luke) that the household was Lydia’s. Others in the house could have included her children, her employees, possibly even slaves (one third of all people in the Roman Empire were slaves).
Lydia was a God-fearer. This language is used to describe Gentiles who worshipped Yahweh, without converting to Judaism. Because there were not enough Jewish men in Philippi to form a synagogue, Lydia and some other God-fearing women would likely gather by the river each Sabbath day, as was the custom for worshippers of Yahweh where there was no synagogue. That’s where Paul et al found Lydia.
Lydia became a Christ-follower, the first European convert to Christianity. Paul won her to Christ through his rhetoric. Lydia and her entire household were baptized.
Lydia offered hospitality. After Paul baptized Lydia and her household, she prevailed upon the missionaries to stay at her house, which they did.
OK, that’s most of what we know about Lydia. But what is widely speculated by biblical scholars is that Lydia became the leader of the church at Philippi. Acts 16:40 tells us that the “brothers and sisters” were gathered at Lydia’s house. You may remember that most churches in those early days of Christianity were house churches. You may also remember me telling you that it appears that Paul’s favorite church was the church at Philippi—the church that met at Lydia’s house.
Are you beginning to see how important this lesser-known biblical character was to the unfolding story of Christianity? Lydia: the first European convert, the leader and host of the church in the major city of Philippi.
But let’s play “what if” for a moment. What if Paul and others had done a negative-based “needs assessment” in the city of Philippi . . .
“Is there a synagogue? No. Are there Jewish men we can convert? No. Are there Gentile men who love Yahweh? No. Oh well. Let’s be on our way.”
Think about this some more. What if Paul had sized Lydia up for what she lacked given what they were looking for—Lydia had very few of the qualities Paul and friends would have been seeking as they looked for a leader of the Christ-movement in Philippi.
Lydia wasn’t an apostle. Not only that, but she didn’t have any titles. She was not a pastor or a prophet or a deacon . . . zero titles. “Can a nobody lead the church?”
Lydia wasn’t a man. Remember that it took a few good men to form a synagogue, and all Paul could find was this one good woman. “Can a woman lead the church?”
Lydia wasn’t a Jew. She was a Gentile “God-fearer.” “Can a Gentile lead the church?”
Apparently, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” She didn’t have many of the things Paul would have been looking for as the leader of the church at Philippi, but what Lydia had, she was willing to use.
So instead of doing a “needs assessment,” thinking about all the qualities that Lydia lacked, let’s do an “asset assessment.”
Lydia had: a heart for God, a large house, a good bit of money, influence in her home and community, and the gift of hospitality. Put all those “assets” together, and it became the perfect elixir. Lydia had everything needed to lead the new church in her city. Not only that, but we know the Church at Philippi (surely because of Lydia) was generous in funding Paul’s missionary journeys on more than one occasion. Thanks be to God for Lydia and for the Church at Philippi!
All of this leads me to this conclusion:
Too often we look at ourselves and imagine we’re not enough. We take negative stock and find ourselves wanting. “How could God possibly use me? I don’t have enough money or charisma or education or personality or faith or time or talent or treasure. I can’t sing in the choir. I’m awkward in social situations. If I tried to bake cookies for the next fellowship, people would surely end up with food poisoning!”
That kind of thinking, what a therapist friend of mine calls “stinkin’ thinkin’,” gets in the way of living into our fullest potential as disciples and as people.
What if Lydia had said, “But I’m not a Jew, I’m not a man, I don’t have any fancy titles, how could God possibly use me?” Instead, she used what she had in service of the Lord. “I have a big house; come and stay with me on your missionary travels. I have a big house; let’s gather at my house to worship. I have some extra money; I’ll send some to help fund Paul’s work. I have some influence; I’ll have my whole household baptized.”
Back when I was doing poverty work in Eastern Kentucky, I was asked to lead a seminar about asset-based community development. I was trying to find a snazzy title for the workshop that would grab people’s attention, so I floated this title to my boss: “Get Off Your Assets!” My boss didn’t like it—I can’t imagine why!
Here’s the truth: each of us has assets, skills, talents, time or treasure that we can use in service of God. I know that some of you think you don’t have much to offer because your bank account is slim. I know others that think you’re too old to be much good. I know some who don’t think they have the time or the personality or the faith . . . the list could go on and on. I even know some who know they have something to offer but just . . . won’t.
Each of us is endowed with different gifts and skills and assets. All that God asks from us, is to use what we have in service to the Lord. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. If we do that, we are being faithful to who God has called and created us to be.
So “Get Off Your Assets!” I close with a limerick (I was in a limerick writing mood this week apparently!)
If you sing like a moribund emu,
Or your age sadly transcends your IQ,
More than one double chin?
Is your wallet too thin?
By George, use what the good Lord gave you.