In Roman times, the color purple was the color of the elite. Emperors and senators wore purple tunics and togas and, since there were no synthetic dyes, natural coloring needed to be found to produce such regal robes. There was a tiny shellfish in the area of Macedonia that produced one drop of precious purple coloring in its little body, and there was industry built around harvesting, extracting, and then applying the purple liquid to cloth. Is is said that the purple cloth was literally worth its weight in silver! Against that backdrop, we turn to look at our next lesson in our women of purpose series as we look at the woman named Lydia mentioned in Acts 16.
PURPLE MEETS PAUL
Luke introduced Lydia with the following account:
From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us (Acts 16:11-15).
In a sense, in this "chance" meeting between Lydia and Paul was really an encounter between Roman power and the message of the gospel. Here was a woman who had built a significant business that serviced only the richest, most powerful men in the Roman Empire, submitting to the call of God to fellowship with Him through Christ. In all probability, Lydia was not married at the time she met Paul. After her conversion, Lydia, who was already a worshiper of God, was free to direct all her considerable wealth and resources to minister to the needs of Paul's team and to then plant a church that met in her home, which had servants and space to meet (indicating she was a woman of means): "After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them" (Acts 16:40).
PURPOSE LESSONS
What can we learn from this woman's life who harnessed the power of purple to build a successful business:
- She did not need to be married to have purpose.
- Lydia found room for spirituality while traveling and running a successful business.
- Lydia had money, servants, and property at her disposal, and she used them to fund the spread of the gospel in her area and beyond.
How do I know that she carried out what I wrote in point three? I don't; it is only an educated guess based on on what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:14-18,
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
It makes sense that the church meeting in Lydia's home would send Paul financial help and that Lydia would spearhead the effort to support her favorite apostle. This woman of purpose supported the apostle of purpose to reach out to others to find and fulfill their purpose in Christ, including women in areas outside Macedonia. In a sense, Lydia was supporting missions outreaches through her business acumen, taking the profits of sales to the Roman aristocracy to fund the ministry of the Word.
If you are a woman and reading this Memo, I hope you will unleash the full power of your vision for cosmetics, fashion, modeling, hair or any other business endeavor in your heart and build your own business. I also hope you will use the proceeds from your endeavor not only to provide for your household, but also for those who have impacted your spiritual life. We need some Elizabeth Ardens, Estee Lauders, Christie Brinkleys, or Oprah Winfreys who aren't afraid of the power of their own "purple" ideas that will then be used to help extend God's kingdom. Have a blessed week!
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