Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6
Peter and John are going to the temple where there are a lot of people gathered. They see a man begging for money who has been unable to walk for his whole life (over forty years). He asks these two for spare change.
“Silver and Gold I do not have.” That statement kills the idea that the apostles were rich. Some have argued that Jesus was wealthy throughout his ministry, but once when he was in the temple, he had to ask for a Denarius to borrow for his object lesson. Peter and John disappointed this guy by saying “we don’t have any cash for you.”
In every story of the Bible, it’s natural to identify with some character in the story (we usually pick the good guy, of course). I can empathize with Peter and John in that one sentence. I don’t have silver or gold.
No, I’m not complaining about a salary, or any lack of funding, but frankly we don’t have the money that larger, established churches have. I can look around at the other churches in the Spokane Valley, and covet their resources and bemoan our “lack”. We don’t have all the programs, the building, all the people, the history, the leadership, and the experience… I don’t have.
I could make a list of things I don’t have and easily use that list as a self-imposed barrier to why we can’t do more for Christ. If you are like me, you may lean on the future regarding stuff like that: “when I get that… then I can do more.”
Moses tried the “I don’t have” excuse on God as he spoke with the Burning Bush. God said to go to Pharaoh and tell him to release the Israelites. Moses was quick to say that he “didn’t have” the ability to speak well, especially in front of a dignitary. God didn’t like that reason very much. As far as God was concerned, Moses had enough. He wasn’t as gifted as some others in speech class, but his ability to communicate was sufficient to get the job done. Moses didn’t want to get involved. Can’t I just go to church and sit and listen? He tried several excuses to get out of doing God’s work. “What if they don’t believe me…?” God then asks an interesting question, “What is that in your hand?” Moses responded by saying, “A staff”. That staff became the very thing that God used to bring all of the plagues on Egypt, to part the red sea, brought the water from the rock, and all sorts of other things. It was just a stick, a branch from some tree that Moses found, and used to help in his shepherding. That dead stick became known as the “Staff of God”.
God is not looking for us to try to use what he has not given to us. He, however, has given to us quite a bit, and He is simply asking, “What’s that in your hand?” What do you have now that you can use for me? Perhaps you have no clue. That’s fine, but ask God to show you what’s in your hand that he can use. You would be surprised what God can use.
Peter and John didn’t have anything to offer this guy but one sentence. Granted, that one sentence was the authority from Christ to heal him. The truth is, however, it will always only be God doing the work. Moses’ stick wasn’t anything valuable. Peter and John had no special ability to say some magical incantation. A kid with five loaves and two fish had simply that, but Christ multiplied it and fed over ten thousand people.
God is not the slightest bit interested in a big budget, highly talented people, impressive anything to do his work. He honestly just wants us to say, “Here I am. Whatever I’ve got, I got from you, and it’s yours to use however you want.”
