Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." (Acts 3:4-6)
If you walk through any big city in America, you are bound to come across someone asking for a handout. Sometimes they sit up against the buildings with a sign scribbled on cardboard and a hat sitting in front of them. Sometimes they are more aggressive and try to stop you right on the sidewalk asking for a buck or two. Next time it happens to me, maybe I’ll try Peter’s response and say, “I don’t have a buck or two, but what I have I give you; Jesus loves you.” I’m sure that will go well.
I do struggle with what to do when I encounter panhandlers on city streets. I know some people who readily hand over a five- or ten-dollar bill. That can get expensive. Most city-dwellers I know say to just keep walking and don’t may eye contact.
When Peter and John encounter this man, “lame from birth,” laying outside a temple gate, they neither give him money nor walk on by. Peter says to the man, “what I have I give you.”
Of course, they had no money – they hadn’t worked in three years while they travelled the countryside with Jesus. But they didn’t walk on by, either. “What I have I give you.”
Poverty is overwhelming. None of us have enough money to end it. But what do we have to give? As a world, are we doing what we can to ensure no child goes to bed hungry, every adult has opportunities appropriate to their abilities, and our elders can truly enjoy their “golden years”?
We may not have silver and gold, but each of us has something to give to make the world better for all. When we open our eyes to the needs around us and respond with the compassion of Jesus, then we really are saying to those in need, “Jesus loves you, and so do I.”
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