This Can’t Be Right
And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” – Acts 8:18-23.
Thorsten Holck is a potato farmer in Irschengerg, Germany, and he does have a fairly new tractor which has a maximum speed of around 24mph. Thorsten was a little puzzled, even perplexed when he received a speeding ticket in the mail with a photo of his tractor. The ticket was for traveling at the speed of 76mph about twice the speed limit for that area. Thorsten knows that can’t be right because his 24mph tractor is not capable of going 76mph no matter what the speed camera says.
Some things are not right and never will be right. One of those things is the story of Simon, the former sorcerer, who tried to buy the power of God with his money. Simon had been a well known sorcerer in the area until he appeared to believe on Jesus as many others from that area did. However, Simon was thinking like a lost person with his thoughts of buying the power of God.
We may condemn Simon but is that not what many people still try to do today? Is that not what many Christians are trying to do with their money? When we place our money in the offering plate, or place it in an offering envelope, what is our motivation? Do we in our heart of hearts believe that we are buying God’s favor? That can’t be right. Do we see it as a heavenly payoff, as extortion by God to keep bad things from happening to us? That can’t be right. In fact, it is just as wrong as getting a ticket for going 76mph in a farm tractor.
What should our motivation be for giving money to be used in God’s work? The apostle Paul says this, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3.)” In this verse Paul says if he were to give “all my goods to feed the poor.” There are, thankfully, many generous people across this world who give to help those in need, who give to help those affected by disasters, and who give to further the work of God. However, Paul is saying that, even if they gave every last thing that they had including the clothes on their body it would not be of any benefit to them personally if they did not have the proper motivation.
What is the proper motivation for giving? Love, agape love. The kind of love that sent Jesus down from the glories of Heaven to walk upon this earth. The kind of love that sent Jesus to and through the cross to become the Savior of all those who believe upon Him.
Whether it is giving or serving or in whatever we do for our Lord, there is only one right motivation for it. That motivation flows from the heart of God that dwells within every believer. If your motivations have not been right the solution is to move closer to the heart of love that dwells within you through the Holy Spirit.