In God We Trust, Not in Wealth

Acts 19 brings the gospel into a city already crowded with spiritual powers. The temple of Artemis dominates the skyline, and magic scrolls promise protection in a chaotic world. Ephesian spirituality offers control through the right words and the right objects. But those promises are hooks that cannot hold anyone’s hope. Paul announces the kingdom of God, and his daily work in Ephesus carries the word of the Lord throughout the surrounding province.

God does extraordinary miracles through Paul, even healing through handkerchiefs and aprons that have touched him. God speaks the language of people accustomed to putting their hope in spiritual trinkets, but he does not establish a ministry of “healing hankies.” Luke immediately exposes the difference through the sons of Sceva. Their attempt to use Jesus’ name ends with them naked and bleeding. Jesus is not an incantation for bending the world to someone’s wishes. Jesus is a person, a Lord who wants to be known.

The name of Jesus receives honor, and genuine belief takes the shape of confession and surrender. The burning scrolls represent fifty thousand days’ wages, but their destruction is not forced censorship. Voluntary surrender puts personal possessions on the fire, not someone else’s belongings. This costly act of worship declares that Jesus is worth more than the things that once promised security.

Demetrius offers the opposite response. His defense of Artemis begins with concern about income. Religious outrage gives a spiritual cover to the desire to protect prosperity. Luke’s contrast exposes the question underneath both responses: actual trust becomes visible when Jesus asks for something. The rich young man faces that same question and chooses the security of wealth over the invitation to follow Jesus.

Money does not just buy things; money makes promises. Its promises of identity, protection, and security compete with God for worship. Jesus’ lordship therefore reaches beyond a tithe to everything entrusted to a believer’s care. Stewardship replaces ownership: money becomes “a resource to steward, not a savior to worship.” That distinction allows wise planning without pretending to control the future, gratitude without constantly needing more, and generosity without treating every sacrifice as a threat. The ruined temple of Artemis makes the warning plain: created things crumble. Paul’s instruction to Timothy directs hope toward God and turns entrusted wealth toward good deeds, generosity, and a willingness to share.

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Key Takeaways

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  * Costly surrender reveals where trust rests.
  The burning scrolls turn an invisible change of allegiance into a costly, public act. Their destruction is not waste simply because their market value is high; their former promise of security has lost its hold. Voluntary surrender declares that knowing Jesus matters more than recovering every dollar invested in a false hope.
  
  * Religious concern can hide financial allegiance.
  Demetrius dresses the protection of his income in concern for Artemis’ honor. His response exposes how easily spiritual arguments can defend comfort rather than faithfulness. The contrast with the surrendered scrolls makes financial resistance a matter of worship, not merely budgeting.
  
  * Stewardship gives Jesus access to everything.
  A tithe can become a way of keeping the rest of life off limits to God. Jesus’ lordship refuses that division because every resource, ability, and opportunity has been entrusted rather than independently owned. Stewardship makes generosity more than giving away a portion; stewardship places the whole of life under God’s direction. [37:07]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [28:38] - Ephesus and the Promise of Spiritual Control
• [31:12] - Paul Announces the Kingdom of God
• [33:15] - Extraordinary Miracles and Healing Handkerchiefs
• [35:30] - The Sons of Sceva Misuse Jesus’ Name
• [39:16] - Confession and the Burning Scrolls
• [43:19] - Trust Tested by Costly Discipleship
• [45:58] - Money Makes Competing Promises
• [48:58] - Demetrius Defends His Bottom Line
• [54:59] - In God or Money Is the Trust?
• [57:39] - Stewards, Not Owners
• [1:04:32] - Crumbling Idols and Lasting Hope
• [1:08:27] - Paul’s Call to Generosity and Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Acts 19:8-20
“And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, 'I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.' Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?' And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” [28:38]

1 Timothy 6:17-19
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” [01:08:27]

Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” [46:13]

Observation questions

1. In Acts 19:8–10, how does Paul respond when some people reject his message, and what happens throughout the surrounding province over the next two years? [32:17]
2. In Acts 19:11–16, who is credited with the extraordinary miracles through Paul, and how does the sons of Sceva’s attempt to use Jesus’ name differ? [35:30]
3. What actions follow the growing honor given to Jesus’ name in Acts 19:17–20? What details show the personal cost of the believers’ response? [40:33]
4. In 1 Timothy 6:17–19, what attitudes toward wealth does Paul warn against, and what actions does he encourage instead? [01:11:00]

Interpretation questions

1. Why is it important to read the miracles involving handkerchiefs alongside the account of the sons of Sceva? What does that contrast reveal about the difference between trusting Jesus and trying to control spiritual power? [37:07]
2. Why can the burning of valuable scrolls be understood as worship rather than waste? What difference does it make that the believers surrendered their own possessions voluntarily? [41:15]
3. How does Demetrius’s concern for his income help explain Jesus’ warning in Matthew 6:24? How might a person’s defense of religious beliefs conceal a stronger attachment to financial comfort? [52:23]
4. Paul directs wealthy believers toward hope in God and generosity rather than simply telling them to stop having money. How does this help distinguish wise financial planning from treating wealth as a savior? [01:03:14]

Application questions

1. Jesus is a living Lord to know, not a formula for getting the outcome we want. Have you noticed yourself treating prayer, giving, or another spiritual practice as a way to guarantee an outcome? What might trusting Jesus look like in that situation instead? [39:16]
2. Money can promise identity, protection, and security. Which of those promises most draws your heart right now? Can you name a recent decision that shows its influence? [46:42]
3. Costly surrender makes trust visible. Is there a possession, habit, or source of security that you sense may be competing with Jesus? What might a thoughtful, voluntary step toward surrender look like for you? [43:19]
4. Religious reasons can sometimes hide a desire to protect comfort. When have you been tempted to explain away an opportunity to obey Jesus because it might cost money or affect your lifestyle? What could help you examine your motives honestly? [52:23]
5. Stewardship places all our resources under Jesus’ direction, not just the portion we give away. As you consider your spending, saving, time, or abilities, which area feels hardest to open to his direction? What is one decision you could bring before him this week? [58:12]
6. God entrusts resources to believers so they can do good and share. What specific need could you help meet this week with money, time, hospitality, or a skill? How could this group encourage you without pressuring you? [01:11:00]