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View Articles:
The "Passions" of Meadowbrook Church
In the Name of Jesus
Worship Wars Resolved
In the Name of Jesus
February 11, 2010
“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth . . .” (Acts 3:6)
Since the economy began to tank last year, I have seen and heard numerous advertisements urging people to invest in gold. The argument is that, since one cannot depend upon the stock market being stable and since the nation’s deficit threatens to devalue the dollar, “the only safe investment is gold.” Such may be true. However the Apostle Peter taught that gold (and silver too, for that matter) were “perishables” and utterly useless for redeeming people “from [their] empty way of life” (see 1 Peter 1:18).
Peter knew what he was talking about! Early in his apostolic ministry he encountered a beggar who had been crippled for forty years. When the man asked him for a donation to the cause, he was told that he had neither “silver or gold.” Although it would have been easy for Peter to walk away from the man and his problems (perhaps we’ve done the same?) instead he gave him something entirely unexpected—healing of his body!
There is a (probably apocryphal) story about a time when the renowned medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas was being escorted around the Vatican by one of the popes. At some point during the tour the pope said, “Brother, it is obvious that St. Peter can no longer say, ‘Silver or gold I do not have.’” The saintly theologian replied: “Such is very true. However, can the blessed apostle still say, ‘Rise up and walk?’”
Peter’s philosophy was, “I may not have money—but I do have Jesus!” With that kind of faith he answered hostile critics, preached before thousands, and wrought miracles. Today’s Church (at least in the West) does have money, but often finds itself spineless before its critics, silent before the lost, and powerless in the face of the world’s great need.
I do not believe the Bible teaches that there is an inverse proportion between the amount of silver and gold one has and the degree of faith one possesses. (And I certainly do not believe that possession of “true faith” is the key to obtaining silver and gold!) But I do think there is a lesson we need to learn from Peter’s example. It is NOT the amount of resources Christ’s Church has available to it that will make a difference in the world. (Of course we should be generous with whatever resources we have.) But silver and gold will not save the world. Only Jesus can do that. And Jesus is precisely what the Church “has” and the world does not.
May the Holy Spirit embolden us to reach out to our lost world with the salvation and healing we have available “in the name of Jesus”!
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