It's a lesson in charity. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is offer financial help, when instead we have something to offer of far greater value.

The story is familiar to many: Peter and John, the apostles of Jesus, went to the temple in Jerusalem at about three o'clock in the afternoon. There they encountered a lame man, who was carried there every day so he could beg for money. On this fateful day he appealed to Peter and John, as he did to all he encountered, for a few coins to sustain him for another day. But he got far more than he bargained for:

"But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, 'Look at us!' And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, 'I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene -walk!' And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God." (Acts 3:4-8)

Perhaps I am wrongly skeptical of Peter's lack of financial resources but, regardless of what money he did or did not have that day, he had something far greater to offer. To paraphrase his words to the beggar, "I do not have the money to keep you in your present circumstances, but I do have something to remove you from them." And, based upon his response, the lame beggar was far more delighted with what they offered than what he asked.

It may be a stretch to see this story as specifically a lesson in charity, but it does offer an important principle. Each of us are often placed in similar circumstances, especially in a tough economy. Appeals for financial assistance come in the form of letters, emails, phone calls, and personal requests. While there is substantial biblical basis for offering financial help, have we been fully faithful if we don't offer similar help to that of Peter and John? Granted, we likely don't have the gift of instant touch to affect physical healing, but we do have essentially the same resource. As Spirit-filled kingdom citizens, we have the life-changing gospel to offer to those who need so much more than a handout to help with today's needs. The gospel offer should not necessarily preclude financial help, but financial help alone may be the cruelest act of charity.

There is a limit to the financial help we can offer, but there is absolutely no limit to the greatest help we can offer. May we be outrageously charitable with this gift of life today.

Steve

© 2010, Steve Taylor