Do we ever put feet to our prayers? You know that expression, don’t you? When we set out to pray, we will likely be confronted by human needs around us. Sometimes when Jesus wanted to spend time alone with his Father, he found himself surrounded by people who were hurting. What to do? Prayer is important. So are people.
As Peter and John made their way up to the temple at the time of prayer, someone was bringing a lame man up to the temple to beg. He regularly begged at the Beautiful gate. He asked the apostles for money. When Peter looked at him and said, “Look at us,” the man just knew he had touched their heartstrings.
Anyone who travels internationally encounters beggars shouting, “One dollar. Give me one dollar.” In our city, I meet people who stand on street corners asking for money. You see them, too. What do you do?
Who can forget Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan? The priest and Levite were too busy with their work for God to bother with the man who had been robbed and beaten. But the Samaritan stopped and cared for him.
A fellow church member and friend used to work for HPD helping the homeless in our city. Steve knew all of the homeless in our area by name. He told me not to give money but to point them to a local agency that helps the homeless. We should care and we should help. But our helping can hurt if it perpetuates a cycle of being homeless.
Peter’s answer helps us. Christ’s people can’t always fix economic problems for others. But we have more to offer. Peter had no money, but he had Jesus. He healed the man that day.
A wealthy Pope once said to his assistant, “The church can no longer say, ‘Silver and gold have I none.’” The assistant agreed and observed, “Neither can we say, ‘In the name of Jesus, rise and walk.’” If the Pope was right, we have lost the best gift we have. Whatever the church’s bank account, we still have Jesus. We can offer the real help the world needs. Will we?
