Such As I Have
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—Acts 3:6
As Peter and John went up to the temple at the hour of prayer they encountered a forty year old man who had been lame from birth begging for alms from those entering the temple. Peter fixed his gaze on the man and said, I don't have any silver or gold but I will give you what I do have and what he gave that man was far greater than any monetary gift could or would have been. That man never expected to be more than a poor beggar but Peter gave him a healthy body, the ability to live a normal life and do meaningful work for a living. Peter gave that man hope but greatest of all he gave him Christ enabling the man to praise God (Acts 3:1-8). Perhaps greatest of all Peter gave all the people seeing this man walking and praising God a tremendous example of the power of God and set the stage for his second sermon (Acts 3:9-26).
Peter did not just look at the man, then turn to John and say, "I feel so sorry for that man, sure wish we could help him". He didn't look at John and say, "Let's go find a charitable organization, tell them about this man and maybe they can help him." He didn't say to John, "Let's go back to the other disciples and form a committee to help this man". He just told the man, "Look on us" (verse 4) and then said, "Such as I have give I to you". Peter simply used what he held in his hand to bring glory and honor to the Lord and to give that man one of the greatest blessings he would ever receive.
I know that we cannot perform miracles but I am convinced in my heart that God expects no less of us than he did of Peter, namely use what we hold in our hands to glorify and honor him while at the same time being a blessing to others physically and or spiritually. I fear that too often in an attempt to not become too involved, we try to convince ourselves that we are so little and insignificant and there just isn't anything we can do. You see, if we are not very careful, we will tend to look at the leanness of the purse rather than the riches of God. It is far better not to ask ourself what we can do but what can God do through us. I think about the occasion in Matthew 14:13-21 when the disciples of Jesus held in their hands only 5 loaves and 2 fish. A meager amount of food but when placed into the Lord's hand it fed 5000 men besides women and children and twelve baskets full were left over."
I really like the story told in Mark 14:3-9 about the woman who poured a very costly ointment on Jesus. Seeing this, some of those present were indignant, saying that the ointment could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus responded by telling them to leave her alone, she has done what she could. I wonder, have I, have you, have we done, are we doing what we can? Such as I have, give I to you—that's what God wants from all of us not only to him but to each other as well as our fellow man (Mark 12:29-31; 1 Peter 4:8-10; Gal. 6:10; James 2:14-18; Mt. 5:14-16).
Charles Hicks