Silver or Gold I have None

       

There is a story about a humble monk walking with a Roman Catholic cardinal at a time in the Middle Ages when the Roman Catholic church was at its zenith of power, prestige and wealth. The monk became dazed as was the queen of Sheba, when she had been dazzled with the riches of Solomon's kingdom. The cardinal pointed to the opulent surroundings and said to the monk, "We no longer have to say, silver and gold I do not have." The monk replied, "but neither can you say, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."

In Acts 3:1-8 we find the record of the first miracle performed by the Church. Jesus was now in heaven, but we see him continuing to do, through his body the Church, what he had “began to do and to teach” while on earth (Acts 1:1-2). In this miracle we see him meeting a human need and as a result attracting many to his kingdom. Peter and John are the instrument of his will and his power.

Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer. Peter, John and James were the three disciples closest to Jesus (Mark 9:2; Luke 22:8). They were also esteemed as pillars of the Church (Gal. 2:9). Peter and John were good friends (John 20:1-9, 21:4-7). Only God would have put these two together for their personalities were opposite. Peter was outgoing but John was reserved.

Jesus sent out his disciples two by two in both Mark 6:7-13 and Luke 10:1-12 ; he did it for a purpose. The wise King Solomon wrote “two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecc.4:9-10). Two can support and encourage each other. They are mutually accountable to each other and this reduces the number of temptations.

Luke had just referred to the apostles doing signs and wonders and meeting in the temple (Acts 2:43-46). Now he narrates a specific incident that included these elements. The first miracle performed by the Church was the healing of a lame man right outside the Temple gate (Acts 3:1-10). The man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. This lame man was more than forty years old (Acts. 4:22)

The temple gate was a propitious place for begging. Crowds of people were going through it at least three times a day. The devout Jews had three times of prayer; 9AM, 3PM and sunset. The Beautiful Gate was the favourite entrance to the temple court. Giving money to beggars was considered praiseworthy in the Jewish religion. So the beggar wisely placed himself where he would be seen by most people.

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. This was just an ordinary day for him. Money to meet his needs for that day was all he expected. He had no idea that Jesus in heaven had his eyes on him and something special was about to happen to and through him; something that would be read about by the all future generations. God had chosen the weak thing of the world to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:27). Peter looked straight at him, as did John.

In Luke 10:30-37 Jesus gave a parable of the Good Samaritan. In the parable a man was robbed, beaten and left half dead by the roadside. Then a Priest and a Levite happened to be going down the same road and when they saw the dying man, they passed by on the other side. These servants of God ignored the dying man and the parable does not state the reason. There are many possible reasons and maybe that is why Jesus left it open.

Maybe they were in a hurry to get to the “serious” synagogue business; or maybe attending to him was not their type of responsibility; or the person was not a member of their synagogue; or he was a useless unbeliever; or many other reasons. “Wounded men” still lie by the roadsides today and they are often ignored because of various “good or understandable” reasons. However, the image of God found in every human life challenges us to view and interact with every person as valuable.

In another parable- of the goats and sheep (Matt. 25:31-46) Jesus said “when the Son of Man comes in his glory, he will separate the sheep from the goats. He will say to the sheep, “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat…I needed clothes and you clothed me… Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these...you did for me”

Peter and John did not neglect a human need in their hurry to worship God. Followers of Christ should treat others with kindness, serving them as if they were serving Christ Himself. Jesus is still purifying for himself his own special people, zealous for good works (Titus 2:14).James 1:27 says "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world”.

Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have.” Peter and John were not like some present day preachers who have plenty of silver and gold. The Church in Acts was poor in material things. The members did not store up things for themselves. They “sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need (Acts 2:45). The apostles were poor, yet making many rich; having nothing and yet possessing everything (2 Cor.6:10).

Wealth is a gift from God; it is he who gives the ability to produce wealth (Deut.8:17-18).  His friend Abraham (Isa. 41:8) was “very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold” (Gen 13:2). The “blameless and upright” Job “was the richest man in the East” (Job 1:1-3). But in spite of all his wealth we are told that Abraham lived like a foreigner on earth, longing for a better country, a heavenly one (Heb 11:8-16). When Job lost everything he had, he said “naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I will depart”.

Silver or gold are not the true riches. One day Jesus said “whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:10-11) Jesus considered the worldly wealth to be “very little” and not the “true riches”.

Peter said, “silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk”. Peter reached down, took the beggar by the hand, and helped him to his feet. Immediately, power and strength came into his ankles and legs. For the first time in his life, he walked. Then in joy, excitement and gratitude he started jumping and leaping and praising God. The healing was instantaneous and complete.

Peter did not have silver or gold to give but he had something far better. Health without money is much better than money without health. Moreover, by endowing him with health Peter was conferring on him the ability to earn money. We sometimes ask God for what we think will solve our problem only to be given something above and beyond all that we asked or thought (Eph.3:20). We get not what we prayed for but what we really need. God's wisdom is deep and his power is great (Job 9:4)

The Church in Acts had no silver or gold, but today the Church has money. God has deposited in the Church money to spread his kingdom on earth. Some churches have built schools, hospitals and orphanages to serve physical needs while “holding forth the word of life” (Phil 2:14-16). Charitable organizations like Samaritan's Purse, Christian television and radio stations, Bible translators like Wycliffe Bible Translators and many others are spending a lot of money carrying out the Church’s mandate (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

Now this is what Jesus meant by being faithful with the worldly wealth; God’s money being faithfully spent in his work. The Church should gladly spend and be spent for the souls (2 Cor. 12:15) and “to whom much is given, much is expected” (Luke 12:48). The Church is fast increasing in riches but it must not lose what is of incomparably greater value, the faith and the courage to say to lame humanity, "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."

It’s important for Christians to become acquainted with what is going on "at the gate". Opportunities of doing good lie in our way every day and hour. Ministering to the spiritual needs of those around you is worth much more than the money gifts; it ranks higher in God's account. Silver and gold can do many things but there are some things which silver and gold cannot buy.

The poverty of the apostles was in material substance only; they had power over the souls of men! The ability to raise a lame man and transform his life is by far a greater gift than any of those distinctions skill which the world so extravagantly rewards. Pilate and Caesar the great men of Peter’s day would never have dared to utter the words “rise up and walk”, it would not work. Peter however did it by simply mentioning the name of his master; the result was instant and perfect healing.

Peter walked through the streets of Jerusalem on that memorable morning unobserved and undistinguished. Many passed him by, taking him for one of the many thousand ordinary men who filled the streets of Jerusalem. Yet in him there was a hidden power which made him really greater than the world's rulers. The followers of Christ may appear like just ordinary persons, but they carry within them a wonder working power. Their words, beautiful lives and powerful prayers can transform even the most wretched life. No amount of silver or gold can do that!

The first miracle is the picture of lame helpless humanity at the beautiful gate but outside. The Church standing far off and singing a song which she hopes will reach the dwellers in the valley only mocks them. The Church must go to them, take them by the hand and says “what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk". The transformed persons will go into the temple leaping and praising God drawing much attention. Those who witness the amazing transformation will be filled with wonder and amazement and seek it too.