Recently there has been a need within our body of believers. Another believer came to me and asked, “What can I give to help?” This should be a common question we ask in reference to believers and unbelievers. We are blessed to be a blessing. However, it is sometimes easier to give money than it is to give our time and our knowledge. I have had many people through the years ask what they could do for me, and my answer is always, “You can pray.” Often their response is “Yes, but can I do something else?” I believe the hardest thing we can do for others is to offer sincere prayer and biblical truths to help people in need. I know that if they are hungry or without shelter, we need to meet that need before they will give us a listening ear, but I also think we stop short of giving them what they need if we do not offer them Jesus.
In Acts chapter three we see Peter and John going to the temple to pray. In Luke 24:50-53 we have the disciples watching Jesus ascend to Heaven, leaving His disciples to continue His ministry. Jesus blessed them, left them, and they returned to Jerusalem where they were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. All who were familiar with the disciples knew that at the ninth hour, the disciples would be going to the temple for their evening prayer.
Act 3:1 “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.”
Luke 24:50-53 “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”
As Peter and John approached the gate, they saw a lame man asking them for alms, which means he wanted charity from them. This man had no means of support other than the charity of others. He had always been lame and it was the custom of his friends to bring him to the gate every day to beg. There was no welfare or disability, this was the only means of support an invalid could attain.
Act 3:2-3 “And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.”
When Peter and John entered the gate, they heard the man and told him to look at them. He thought they were going to give him money, but he got the surprise of his life! Their first words, “silver and gold have I none,” probably left him feeling discouraged but that soon turned to joy as they told him to rise and walk in Jesus’ name. I can not imagine the joy he experienced as he felt the power of Jesus giving him the strength to walk. It would have been an incredible testimony of Jesus as the healer, Savior, and Master of those who believed. Anyone in the area knew Peter and John were disciples of Jesus. It would have caused a great stir among the unbelievers as well. In verse 10 it tells us that all knew he was the one sitting at the gate and they were all filled with wonder and amazement.
Act 3:4-10 “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, 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. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.”
Today, we live in a world where there are multitudes of charities for those who are in need. They are good to help with physical and mental needs, but what about something that will help them eternally? I remember as a kid hearing “You can give a man a fish and he can eat a meal, or you can teach a man to fish, and he can eat for a lifetime.” We can give people money and food, and we should, but we can give them Jesus and they can live forever. How about you, what are you giving?
