Read Acts 3

“Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: 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.” (Acts 3:6–7)

What would you do if you saw a legitimately poor and lame beggar on the side of the road needing money? In the first century, there were no government programs for the sick and the elderly. If you were fortunate, your family would care for you, but in many cases, the handicap were left at the entrance of gates to beg for money.

In our account, we see the worst case scenario. A man who has been lame his whole life sat daily at the gate of the temple asking for alms. He seems to be without family, as those who carried him to the gate are without a name. If there was ever any man deserving of alms and physical care out of sheer pity, it would be this man.

Yet, we see in the example of the apostle Peter the wisdom of God on dealing with such matters in a way that is often forgotten. When asked for alms, Peter does not reach deep in his pockets and give money to show the world he was a good Christian boy. In fact, there is no evidence that Peter gave him any money at all! What did he do? He gave the sickly man the witness of the power of Christ!

“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6)

Peter then grabs him by the arm and raised him to his feet. The man was healed! He was leaping for the first time! He was taking strides with his legs like a child who first discovers the joy of walking. We can only imagine how wonderful this whole scene was.

But it didn't end there. Peter let the man hold on to him as a crowd gathered around to see this miraculous thing, and took the opportunity to preach the gospel to the crowds.

Beloved, there is a biblical principle here we must all understand thoroughly: the gospel is everything a man ever needs! Yes, we must open up our hearts to the poor and feed the hungry as Christ commanded, but did Christ command such a thing to be practiced without the proclamation of the gospel? Did not Jesus also teach, "What does it profit if a man gains the whole world but loses his soul?" (see Matthew 16:26)

God forbid that we feed thousands with their bellies full while leaving their souls starving on the road to hell! Should we not much rather care for the state of their souls? What gift is it to a man when the gospel is omitted? If you had a paper cut and a life-threatening wound, wouldn’t it be injustice to bandage the paper cut but leave the wound unattended? Yet, this is the perfect description of most charity — even Christian charity. We must wake up to the fact that Christ's salvation is the greatest charity to every and all men, and it is the one gift all of us have to share with others.

Therefore, Beloved, give! Be generous! Care for the sick and the poor! But never fail to do so in the name of Jesus Christ, the Giver of Eternal Life, and use every opportunity to share the saving Gospel of God's love.

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits… nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:3)