Paul dropped by my office not too long ago. I get drop-ins all the time. It’s one of my great daily challenges—to remember to be glad to see someone when I have a list of ten things to do and five people to call. I’m slow in learning that actual ministry usually happens when I am on my way or preparing to do official ministry. People drop by for a myriad of reasons, usually with good motives. You would not believe the requests that come our way. Occasionally, a person drops by announcing a pyramid scheme disguised as a “great business opportunity.”

“Knock, knock,” he said, as if I didn’t hear his fist make contact with the door.

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” I quickly said.

“I’m Paul. You must be Josh,” he replied. “Says so on the door!”

“Paul . . . hmmm . . . where are you from? Do you live here in town?”

“No, I don’t live in these parts. I’m from a town you’ve never heard of.”

“Try me.”

“Okay. I’m from Tarsus. It used to be a place of some influence,” he noted with a fair degree of pride. “Didn’t spend too much time there, though.”

“You’re right. Never heard of it. Well, except for in the New . . . Testament . . . nah . . . never mind, that’s crazy.” I laughed a silent laugh.

An awkward pause filled the moment. Paul wasn’t much to look at. He was short. His back hunched over a bit. He had an odd scar below his right eye, the kind you don’t notice until the light catches his face just right. He squinted a lot, as if he’d left his glasses somewhere and was now trying to fake it. I noticed Paul looking at my desk. I had a few Bibles spread out with articles, commentaries, and personal notes.

Paul’s eyes grew larger.

“Whatcha’ working on?” he asked with genuine interest.

“Oh, I’m working on a chapter for a series on generosity I’m teaching at Otter Creek Church.”

“Really? How long have you been there? You got guts.”
“Yep. I’m studying a pericope from Paul’s letter to Timothy concerning money and wealth. We have been studying the Gospel of Luke and now our turning our attention to generosity. After all, any real discussion in discipleship must include a discussion about our addiction for more.”

“Pericope? That’s a big word that means passage, right? How’s it coming?”

“Do you know something about this letter?” Immediately, I wondered why I asked. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that shared ignorance is still ignorance. And yet, strangely, I had a feeling this guy actually knew what he was talking about. Then he broke the brief silence.

“I know a bit, though others who’ve never met me or Timothy seem to know more. Never quite understood that, to be honest. That’s true of all kinds of subjects.”

“Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?” I blurted. This was an opportunity I could not pass up.

“All right. Let me guess. You want to talk about what I meant in my teaching about women and their role in the local church? Please tell me you’re not stuck on my words about women being saved through childbearing?”

“No.”

“You’re curious to hear more thoughts on the role of elders and deacons?”

“That’s not it either. Not today, anyway.”

“Want to know more about the false teachers I combat in the letter? I really let them have it!”

He looked giddy.

“Actually, I was hoping you could elaborate a little more about your conviction that the love of money is ‘a root of all kinds of evil.’”

If you want to hear the whole thing, you can click HERE for the entire conversation (see The Art of Generosity).