At Your Own Expense

He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Acts 28:30‭-‬31 ESV

The story of the Apostle Paul ends just as it started: Paul is still proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ with boldness and nothing is able to hinder him, not even being under house arrest. This is a fantastic leadership lesson for all of us who are struggling with barriers (both physical and mental). Moreover, it’s an important lesson for those of us who are hindered by finances.

I want to expound on how being missionally focused at our own expense gives us the edge as we live out the great commission by proclaiming the good news with boldness and without hindrance.

Two benefits to taking on the expenses instead of passing them off:

1. You make the rules of engagement

Paul was able to make his own rules for engagement because he was paying for his own bills. If he took money or relied on others, he would have to play by their rules. But the very fact that the Apostle was able to “welcome all who came to him” was an indicator of the freedom that comes from his financial independence from others. Being able to make your own rules of engagement makes you the master of your own domain and your territory.

2. You are accountable to yourself

Luke says the Apostle was not hindered by anything or anybody when he was sharing the gospel. This is a great benefit when you are financially independent and paying your own price. You only have to answer to yourself. Nobody will tell you what to do or how to do it. Being accountable to only yourself is a great benefit because it allows you to have one master instead of juggling many.

How do you apply this in your life?

You apply this in your life by taking the following steps toward paying your own expenses:

1. Work to become financially independent. That means learn a trade, get a job, start a side hustle, that can pay the bills and allow you the freedom to do what you love doing. You may not make the most money or enough money to do everything you want all at once. But when you have some money, start managing your money so that it works for you.
2. Risk on opportunities presented to you. When the passage says the Apostle Paul “welcomed all who came to him” we need to acknowledge the risk he took. He was awaiting trial because he was falsely persecuted and imprisoned for spreading the gospel. He welcomed both those who were for his cause and against his cause. That is a substantial risk he undertook. Most of us shy away from risk, but the lesson here is simple: even risk comes at our own expense. Develop an appetite for it. This is the parable of the talents in real life application. Paul took what he earned and turned that into opportunity.
3. Invest where your heart is. The Apostle Paul paid for his passion at his own expense because he invested his earnings into his platform to share the good news. By being able to create his own rules of engagement, and taking on risk, he was able to share with people and welcome all who would hear the gospel. We cannot wait to be handed money or opportunities to invest where our hearts are. We must take action and start taking steps toward where our hearts and passions lie.

Prayer: Father, help us shoulder our own burden and become a person not indebted or compromised to live our lives partially in the calling we received from you. Allow us the freedom to pursue what you created us for. Move us away from being hamstrung financially to an investor into the kingdom you called us to and allow us to witness how you reap from that. We pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.