So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Acts 3:5-6
The lame man expected to receive something from Peter & John just as he did from others who came to the temple. He had been conditioned to feel entitled and expected others to help him, but his vision was only to get the assistance to relieve the pain of lack and inadequacy.
Feeling entitled to receive something from others doesn’t truly change our condition. It only puts a band-aid to the problem. It neither builds our character nor does it make us a stronger person. As a matter of fact, it leaves us in a position of weakness and inadequacy.
When I was a teacher, I had variety of students with different levels of ability and drive. Some were willing to work hard and do what it took to get a good grade. Others struggled but asked for help. There was always a couple of students who felt entitled to a get good grade or special treatment.
I was not one to give any student special treatment because I really believed in their ability more than they believed in theirs. Since they were used to getting the sympathy of others, they hadn’t had the opportunity to be pushed over the edge and see what is in them.
Saying “yes” to an expectation is a lot easier because it makes the student and their parents happy, and you can be considered a cool and popular teacher! It’s always a struggle to say “no” to someone who expects something from you, but if we are patient and are doing it for the right reasons, we will see the fruit of it.
I had the privilege of seeing students achieve the grade on their own and feel really good about it. We can get to see the person’s confidence grow over time because we have given them the opportunity to struggle and come out on the other side stronger. Now they can feel that they have overcome a major obstacle without a handout or special treatment!
What if the people whose help we seek, know their assistance is like alcohol to an alcoholic!? What if they are the ones who really care about us because they are not giving us what we are craving. Their desire is to give us what we really need which is healing and wholeness in Jesus! I surmise that if Peter & John had silver and gold, they wouldn’t have given it to him because they were spirit led rather than emotionally driven! They had the faith and the vision to see him healed!
Is it possible that those who looked seemingly as our enemies or adversaries have all along wanted the best for us? Perhaps we weren’t willing to receive it because it didn’t come in the package we were used to!
Lord open our eyes to see the treasure in the form of peculiar people that you have placed in our lives whose assignment is very different than all the other people we have encountered. Thank you for people like Peter & John who came to bring wholeness and not a handout. They have come to bring the Good News of healing and restoration that can change the course of our lives. Help us not to miss the encounter with them.
Help us to be agents of true healing and restoration rather than handout and special treatment toward others!