Romans 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks.
Priscilla and Aquila were the Apostle Paul’s travelling missionary companions. They were tentmakers and had an established leather-works business in Corinth which is where they met Paul. Priscilla and Aquila were Jews expelled from Rome by the Roman Emperor, Claudius. They shared not only spiritual oneness but also trade skills with Paul hence became Paul’s assistants and comrades. (Paul was also a tentmaker to financially support himself). After travelling for a while with Paul the couple stayed back in Ephesus (Modern Turkey), to pastor the church that was newly birthed by Paul. Paul was able to train the likeminded couple into passionate pastors and church planters.
This ‘made for each other’ perfect couple is mentioned six times in the New Testament. Priscilla was from an elite, wealthy and socially higher class than her husband Aquila. She was well educated and had exceptional teaching skills. Aquila, a freeborn Jew, Roman citizen and a tentmaker was only tradesman of the artisan class. However, we see the princess working with her hands in her husband’s business. The social status, etiquette, class or caste was no bar for this couple to fulfill their God-given purpose. Artisan Aquila treated her with dignity and affluent Pricilla respected him with integrity. There is dynamic power in the unity of two likeminded people.
“A perfect relationship is when two imperfect people learn to enjoy their differences”.
The power of two:
1. Advice: Advice doesn’t mean controlling the other person. Knowing when to speak, when to be silent and softening the tone, time and tenor is wisdom. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him (Apollos), they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:26). The succinct advice of the couple ignited Apollos into a brilliant teacher of the Word. Advice is not emotional splutter but poignant equilibrium that will support and stabilize the receiver.
2. Admire: Admiration is not just expressed with a bunch of flowers but in a bundle of love. If Priscilla had refused to step down from her royalty she would not have been a helpmeet to her artisan husband. She chose to learn the trade of the tentmaker and became his coworker at home and in his business. In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves (Philippians 2:3). Admiration will make an imperfect man perfect and will up-skill a pretty princess into a powerful preacher.
- Alleviate: The burden becomes light when we have a shoulder to share and sob. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). Carrying does not mean we must be crushed by the weight of the world, it only means co-partnering. Share only what the other person cannot carry; It does not mean to spoil the spouse or make the other person lazy. Sharing alleviates the burdens.
By loving advice, admiration and alleviating burdens, two imperfect people build a perfect marriage together.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to clothe myself in humility and esteem the talents, gifts and needs of others more than myself. Amen.
Leave a Reply