“What’s in your wallet?” is a well known phrase. It is a clever caption coined by the credit card company master card. I suppose the phrase correctly belongs to an overweight Viking wreaking havoc in some modern day setting, as is the usual scenario for the commercial. But the question posed by this simple Viking is rather complex. What is in your wallet? In our society the wallet represents that which gets us the things we need to survive. We pull out our wallet at the gas pump, the grocery store, and pretty much anywhere we need something. Yet our wallet is also our source of charity. We pull it out at church, when our kids are in need, even perhaps when we see a homeless man asking for assistance on the roadside. We all have a spiritual wallet as well, a source from which we supply our spiritual needs and the needs of those around us as well. And frankly this Viking posed question is far more profound when it is considered spiritually. It would not be difficult for all of us to pull out our wallets this morning and answer the question “What’s in our wallet”. I have a few receipts, some business cards, a photo or two and so on. But to answer “What’s in your spiritual wallet” is challenging, especially when it comes to what we can give to others when they ask us for help.
What we do give to those who ask is a deeply important subject in the Word of God and the book of Acts gives us a story that will help us to understand what we should give to those seeking our help. Take a look at Acts 3:1-10.
The simple truth is Peter gave what he had and we need to be the type of people who “give what we’ve got”.
Peter first had to figure out what he had, because what he did not have what was asked for, namely gold and silver. He knew his life had been changed so he offered the only thing in his possession that was able to meet this man’s need, Jesus Christ. Are you focused on what you have or what you don’t?
Next, Peter had to give what he had in a way that connected with this lame man. He did this by offering dignity to this man. How many times have you stopped to look a beggar in the eye? Offering dignity with our gift is huge! People need to see they are loved. Jesus spent time with prostitutes, tax collectors and thieves and in each one he saw someone worth dying for. Do we see as Peter saw…as Jesus sees? Peter was truthful too. I love the fact he told this man he was broke but not unable to give him what he needed. Be honest with people. Lastly, he offered this man compassion. He stopped. He reached down and picked this man up. He took the time to “give what he had”.
The world is asking us to answer some pretty deep questions. I don’t think this lame man was only asking for money alone. He was looking for a way to survive. He found this and more in Jesus the Nazarene. What are you giving to those in the world who are looking to you for an answer to the deep questions of their life? They need to hear from you that Jesus can help them right where they are!
Friends, when we answer the questions of the world we don’t just impact one life, we impact many. Look at the end of the story. Everyone who knew this lame man were amazed at what had happened to him. When those around see someone connect a question with the answer they are profoundly impacted.
The truth friends is that you can have absolutely nothing in your wallet and still have everything to give one who is asking you for help. When Christians give what they’ve got men and women around them experience the transformation of Jesus Christ. Let us be those who would seek to answer the questions asked us with the grace of Jesus Christ.
Community Questions:
Do you ever find it difficult to give what you’ve got when someone is asking for something else?
Why is it important to address spiritual needs along with physical needs?
Far before it was a Hollywood hit GI Joe was a afternoon cartoon series for kids. I am proud to say that I was one of those kids…and so were many of you. I can still remember som
Some of us may remember the Lone Ranger. He was feared by all the criminals of the west for one key reason. He was effective at bringing them to justice. They might be able to escape other lawman, but not the Lone Ranger. His calling card was a single silver bullet. This silver bullet would strike fear into the heart of those who would break the law for they knew it belonged to the one who could stop them. If the Lone Ranger was not able to bring lawbreakers to justice his calling card would be ineffective. The same is true about the Christians silver bullet.
Mike Holmes has a simple philosophy: Make it Right. He is the host of the HGTV show Holmes on Homes. In the show Mike comes to the rescue of homeowners who have been taken advantage of by bad contractors. He comes to their home, assesses the problem, and…you guessed it makes it right! It is simple, yet profound. Being a homeowner myself it scares me a bit that there are enough bad apples out there to warrant an entire hit television show highlighting their mistakes but it’s true. Well I want to borrow Mike idea here for a new blog series entitled “Christ on Christians”. Many times Christians have blown it and others always pay the price. I would like to consider a situation and ask what Christ would have done differently. I would love your thoughts and comments as we go along on this project!
he followers of God in his day had been told not to commit adultery. Adultery was a violation of the marriage vow. We all are familiar with what that means: physical unfaithfulness outside of marriage for one who is married. But Jesus took a step further, he said adultery is not simply the physical act, it’s deeper. If you look at a woman with lust you’re guilty of adultery.
