About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 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. 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. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”
Acts 19:23-27

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In the first-century Ephesus, commerce and religion were connected. Today’s passage describes how Demetrius stirred up his fellow tradesmen to stop Paul from preaching the Gospel. Demetirus insisted the Gospel was a threat because if there was only one true God, their goddess Artemis would be “robbed of her divine majesty.” Demand for devotional objects made by artisans would decline, and their trade would “lose its good name.” Convinced of the double threat to business and religion, the craftsmen became furious and started a riot.

Today, the Gospel continues to challenge people’s way of life. Though they may not worship silver statues, idols of all sorts block people’s receptivity to the Gospel. For example, illness has stripped someone I dearly love of nearly everything she defined herself by. My heart breaks for her, but there is hope. Though devastating, the loss has made her more open to God. In Matthew 5:3, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” It may seem counterintuitive, but spiritual poverty can be a blessing. When things are going well, people have the illusion of control, and they cannot see their need for Jesus. When their sense of self-sufficiency falls away, it can open people’s hearts to a power greater than themselves—the God who holds eternal life.

Just as the artisans in today’s passage feared losing their idol-producing business, we are all vulnerable to depending on idols of our own making. Things we chase to feel important, or use to drown out unpleasant emotions, eventually fail to deliver and leave us feeling empty. Whatever we value most is a potential God-substitute—even wonderful blessings like the people we love. The key is to put God first in our hearts, because everything and everyone else can fail us or be lost. Only God is 100 percent dependable. He is our ever-present help. Nothing can separate us from His love either now or in all of eternity. If you devote yourself to God first, you will feel more secure and your relationship to everything else will improve.

Next Steps

What potential loss feels insurmountable to you? Spend some time in prayer and confession, examining if it has first place in your heart. Why does it feel so essential? Does this thing define your identity or bring you a sense of security? If you lost it, who or what would you depend on? Then, quiet your mind and ask God to help you to feel the fullness of His love and return it with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.