The Value Of God

The Value of God

Scripture Reference: Acts 3:1-6 (KJV)

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Who is Peter:

1. Originally called Simon (=Simeon ,i.e., "hearing"), a very common Jewish name in the New Testament. His father had probably died while he was still young, and he and his brother were brought up under the care of Zebedee and his wife Salome (Matt. 27:56; Mark 15:40; 16:1).

2. Simon and his brother doubtless enjoyed all the advantages of a religious training, and were early instructed in an acquaintance with the Scriptures and with the great prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah.

3. He appears to have been settled at Capernaum when Christ entered on his public ministry, and may have reached beyond the age of thirty. His house was large enough to give a home to his brother Andrew, his wife’s mother, and also to Christ, who seems to have lived with him (Mark 1:29, 36; 2:1), as well as to his own family. It was apparently two stories high (2:4).

Who is John:

1. THE APOSTLE, brother of James the "Greater" (Matt. 4:21; 10:2; Mark 1:19; 3:17; 10:35). He was one, probably the younger, of the sons of Zebedee (Matt. 4:21) and Salome (Matt. 27:56; comp. Mark 15:40), and was born at Bethsaida.

2. His father was apparently a man of some wealth (comp. Mark 1:20; Luke 5:3; John 19:27).

3. He was doubtless trained in all that constituted the ordinary education of Jewish youth.

The sole reason that these particular points were brought forth is to illustrate with scripture references that Peter and James were not some poor peasants that were out ministering the word of God

The reason that I make this point is because there are many people of today that would like to label Christianity as the “Poor man’s religion”. This is far from true

Some saints would like to go as far as to give persuasive arguments about whether or not people with excess money are blessed or cursed. This is confusion from Satan.

I would like to attack this confusion not by supporting either case one way or the other but proving the value of God. My hope is that it can be better understood just how important and valuable a word from God can be in our lives.

The fact that Peter and John said that they did not have silver and gold does not mean that they could not have silver and gold they simply did not have any at the time. This needs to be understood by some because we may began to think that we are doing God a favor when we give our offerings to the church.

We must always understand that to give is ordered by God and fully expected to be included in our walk with God (MalachI 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.)

Many Christians have conveniently decided to leave Malachi chapter 3 and verse 11 out of this passage when they teach, preach or talk about it because it describes in detail what we can expect from God when we keep the first part of this contract (Malachi 3:10).

In verse 11 of this passage (Malachi 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.) it reads that He will rebuke the devour from destroying what you are working on. If you are not working on anything, then we cannot expect that the Lord can help us with our situation.