“Money-Beggars”
In recent days we have received a number of
solicitations for money from foreign countries. They are usually sent to us
through our internet ministry and often include pictures and testimonies of
numerous salvations, baptisms, healings etc. along with a request for money or
material goods.
However,
we do not send money to any ministry that openly asks for it, according to the
principles established by Peter during the first New Testament confrontation
with a 'Money-beggar' in Acts 3:1-10. Peter's response:
"Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In
the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth
rise up and walk."
In today's world there are varying degrees
of 'Money-beggars' on every corner. Some send letters, some appeal through
the air waves, and others will ask for money in person! Calling on God is the solution. He took the
dust of the ground and spoke us into existence. He is the One who 'owns the cattle on a thousand hills'.
He also is the One Who promises those who are
doing His will that He will 'supply all your
need'...not always what we want...but what we need, and so at the risk
of sounding sanctimonious...holier that thou...or super-spiritual (which we are
not) it is our practice to give to those whom the Lord leads us to support
and always we support in prayer as the Lord leads!
If we measure our giving/ministry by
the measure of God's glory, surely this type of giving will supply a much more
and exceeding eternal weight of glory to God just as Peter and John
accomplished that day...and the 'Money-beggar' when he calls upon God and learns
and practices these Bible truths will also give great glory to the God of
heaven (Acts 3:8, 9) through the Lord Jesus Christ
(Acts 3:11-26)!
In this passage of Scripture the Lord
accomplished many things through the actions of Peter and John. First of all,
what Peter gave to the lame man was far more valuable than any amount of silver
or gold. If he would have given what the lame man wanted that could have been
the end of the story.
But, because Peter gave him the priceless
gift of healing ‘in the Name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth’
the eventual result was the salvation of ‘about
five thousand’ (Acts 4:4) not to mention the multitudes who have been
blessed through the ages by this miraculous event.
Secondly, Peter also was given the
opportunity to preach a brief but Holy Ghost filled message to the leaders of
the Jews:
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of
the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed
done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you
all, and to all the people of Israel that by the Name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does
this man stand here before you whole. This is the Stone which was set at nought
of you builders which is become the Head of the Corner. Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:8-12)
The third event that was caused by not
giving the ‘Money-beggar’ what he wanted was additional glory to God through
the ‘boldness’ (Acts 4:13) of Peter
and John and eventually the ‘boldness’
(Acts 4:23-33) of the rest of the saints who gathered to pray due to the
events that followed the healing of the ‘Money-beggar’!
While there are many other benefits that happened
because of this one act of giving by Peter and John there at the temple in
those marvelous and miraculous days during the Apostles ministry, the main
event was their refusal to give a temporal gift even though they probably could
have given money for they themselves were not men without earthly means.
But, this one action of Holy Spirit-led
giving was used to set the early church on fire bringing about a multitude of
blessings from the Lord…and through it all He got the maximum glory!! So, as we
give, should we not take these lessons supplied by Peter and John and evaluate
what we do with the gift of the Holy Spirit’s power and the many blessings we
receive at the hand of God? Give what you have just as they did, but, keep your
eye on the ‘Money-beggars’ and determine exactly how the Lord would have you to give!
Peter’s next encounter dealing with money
occurs in the aftermath of the events caused by the healing of the lame man
which eventually brought great grace upon the church, so much so that ‘the multitude of them that believed were of
one heart and one soul; neither said any of them that ought of the things which
he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common’ (Acts 4:32ff).
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