Benevolence & Mercy

Have you ever been in the awkward position where a homeless person asks you for money? Not the one that you just drove by, but the person that actually comes and asks? You know that you have a $20 bill in your pocket, but you're not sure if you should hand it over. Truthfully you're thinking..."If I only had a $5". Perhaps you decide to give the $20. You walk away wondering, "Did I really help that guy or did I just buy a night's worth of booze?" Or...maybe you looked away or just ignored him. Then you have that gnawing guilt, thinking "I could have parted with that money. He needed it more than I did."

In Acts 3, we find Peter and John in a similar situation. A physically handicapped beggar asked them for money. By this time in Acts, a lot of people probably knew Peter and John. There was probably some serious pressure on them as all of the eyes around them looked to see how they would handle the needy man. Peter responds by saying, ""Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you." He then declares healing for the man in Jesus' name. Right then the man stood up, the people gathered to see the miracle, and Peter preached the gospel.

Did you notice something? Peter did not give the beggar money. He didn't contact the church office to ask them help the man financially. He did nothing more for the man than declare his healing. Would Peter be criticized today by our churches for not meeting the man's needs? The man asked for money, but Peter pointed him to Jesus through healing in His name. Surely this guy was broke, he needed food, clothes, shelter...but all Peter did for the man was get him back on his feet.

This man's only source of income was his begging. His only job skill and resource was begging. He used that handicap to make a living. Suddenly, he loses the selling point, his excuses are gone. What will he do now?

I believe that in this passage we find an answer to what Christians are to do in showing biblical mercy through benevolence. Many times we as followers of Christ, tend to react to need with relief rather than doing something that will help turn a life around. I think that we try to alleviate our guilt more than we try to alleviate poverty in someone's life. Giving someone money won't always help them. In fact, sometimes it makes things worse.

The beggar asked Peter for money. Let's be honest, most of us would have thrown a couple bucks his way and walked on feeling satisfied that we had helped him. But did we really? The guys real problem was that he couldn't walk and gain employment because of his condition. Even more than that, the guy needed a Savior. His problem wasn't financial brokenness, or a physical brokenness, but rather spiritual brokenness. He had a desperate need for the Gospel message to be preached and for his heart to see Jesus proclaimed.

Unfortunately much of what we do in "church benevolence" is focus all of our efforts on meeting the physical needs by handing out food, money, clothing, or stuff. Don't get me wrong here, those are not bad things to do. In fact, more Christians should be more benevolent. But it can't stop there. Jesus beckons us to "make disciples". To go and baptize them and teach them to obey everything that He showed us. So, what can we learn from Peter in Acts 3?

First, identify the real need. Many times this requires us to step back and identify the real obstacle. This man needed more than money. He needed his legs healed. Someone else may need education or help through an addiction or simply decent employment and the means to find it. Some may need to be shown another way to live life. They are repeating destructive patterns of behavior that were modeled for them their whole life. We need to find the need and the obstacle and pray about how to really help.

Second, help them help themselves. The materially poor don't need a handout. They need you helping them do for themselves. The handout is a means to an end. An old saying goes, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime." Ask yourself, "What can I do to help this person get on their own two feet that they can't do for themselves?" Find a way to help overcome that obstacle. Be a friend. Help them find work. Help ready them for a better way in life.

Third, share the Gospel. Isn't that what it's really all about? There is nothing more powerful than the Good News of Jesus that can change a life. Sometimes God allows people to get to rock bottom and down and out so they are desperate for a change in their miserable existence. God is giving you an opportunity to help change an eternal destination for someone. Are you making the most of that opportunity?