"When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God."
(Acts 3:3-8)
There are many things in the world that are measured with money. Unfortunately, the respect and treatment of people towards others is often influenced by this as well.
Let us return to the foundation and standard of living based on the truth from God. God existed before money. Blessings also come from God. For that, don't lose hope when we experience a loss or go bankrupt. Don't feel it’s the end of the world if you lose your wealth because you can recover it again. We must have the divine principle that certain things can be bought without money.
Acts 3:3
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.
Actually, everyone in this world is poor and beggars in God's eyes. All humans are the same, that is, they have nothing because everything is from God. The real blessings God places on things that are not in the form of possessions.
Blessing comes from God, not from our efforts alone. Therefore, do not make possession as our idol. If our possession is taken away, do we lose our sense of security? Is our security in God or in our possessions?
Acts 3:4
Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”
The beggar looked at the hands of Peter and John, so Peter asked him to look at the faces of Peter and John.
Today, whatever our conditions and needs, we all need God. However, let's not just look at God's hand, but look at God's face.
Jesus makes it clear in the New Testament this: "But seek first the kingdom of God and its truth, and they will be added to you."
Those who seek God's face will find His hand because He is gracious. However, we must not manipulate or expect to get something from God. He knows what we need. Do not be like the people of the world who do not know God, who seek vain things.
Even though God knows what we need, He also wants us to ask Him. Just like a husband and wife who know that they love each other, but the saying "I love you" is still important. Prayer is practicing our relationship with God.
Don't hesitate or doubt. We can ask for a blessing, but don't make the blessing as the orientation of our life. Everything that is good in our life is a blessing from God.
Acts 3: 6-8
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
Why did Peter not only heal, but also emphasized the message, "Silver or gold I do not have?" Because Peter wanted to educate the beggar who was accustomed to the life of begging, not only physically healing him, but Peter also corrected his mentality and straightened his heart that was accustomed to solutions from worldly treasures.
We have to save and invest, but our hearts should not be attached to our wealth. Don't put our trust in our wealth or investment, because our future does not depend on it.
What do we still have without money at all? We still have God and His promises. As long as we hold on to God and His promises, we can still rise again. As long as we and our families fear God, God will surely take care of us. We also still have character and talents that God can use as a source of blessings. Following God is not a definite riches, but it will be fruitful!
If we feel like we have lost everything, remember that we have God and we can start over. What was destroyed could still be rebuilt on the rubble.
2 Things that can be bought without money, which we must have this year:
- Trust
Trust given from God as well as from others. Even though we don't use money, but in order to gain trust we have to "pay a price" and have to endure trials. If we maintain the trust given from God and those around us, that is the beginning of our sustenance. We can go bankrupt, lose our job or property, but as long as we become people who can be trusted, God will surely open His way. - God is with us
Pay the price to live earnestly and fear God, because God will make a difference between the wicked and the righteous.
Excerpted from Ps. Philip Mantofa's Sermon, 6 January 2021, Instagram & YouTube Live
https://youtu.be/ubbKLp7QDhQ
