What is the engine of the economy according to Les?
Greed is identified as the engine of the economy. The passage illustrates this with the silversmiths of Ephesus, whose wealth came from crafting silver shrines for Diana; when many were converted and discarded their idols, the craftsmen's profits were threatened, causing a great stir.
Les explains that in Acts 19, as Paul took the gospel of grace into Asia Minor and many pagans in Ephesus were converted, they threw away their idols. This threatened the silversmiths, especially Demetrius, who made silver shrines for Diana and said their wealth came from that craft. When Christianity made inroads into idolatrous worship, it caused a great stir. Les notes the same is true today. He cites a junk bond broker who popularized the idea that there is nothing wrong with greed, and then answers his own question: the engine of the economy is greed.