Such As I Have
Acts 3
2 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;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 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.
The ministry and the ability to minister is not contingent upon having a large amount of money or material resources.
There are ministry organizations that have the resources; there are churches that prosper financially; and there are believers who have means, but God has never been dependent upon human resources.
Since "we wrestle not against flesh and blood", and "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal", then we are no dependent upon the "arm of the flesh".
Though we minister among the needy our primary focus is not to supply material needs. Though we do need to remember the words of James -
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (AV)
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit?
And the words of John -
1Jo 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (AV)
We also need to remember the attitude of Peter and John when they were approached by this lame man.
Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:
I cannot give what I do not have, but I must give what I do have!
What we do have is the name of Jesus and the power that name carries.
When it all boils down, all we really do have is Jesus. That is our commodity - that is what we have to offer. Curing the man of his lameness was much preferable to large quantities of gold and silver. What we have is much greater than silver and gold.
It is related that Thomas Aquinas came to Rome and visited the Pope. He looked somewhat amazedly upon the mass of
treasure which he saw there. "So", said the pope, "you see, Thomas, we cannot say as did St. Peter of old, 'Silver and gold have I none.'" "No", said Aquinas, "neither can you command, as did he, the lame man to arise and walk".
In his name there is life.
In his name there is healing.
Ac 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (AV)
Ac 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (AV)
"In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
Now that was better than any handout. This man received a whole new way of living.
Many will come by who have no interest in what Jesus can do for them. They just want a couple of dollars, a meal, a bill paid. It seems that all the church is good for to them is to help them make it through another day.
But what we really have to offer is so much better - it will help them make it through life.
There is forgiveness in the name of Jesus.
There is hope in the name of Jesus.
There is a new start in the name of Jesus.
Ac 9:34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. (AV)
Ac 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. (AV)