Giving Your 'Nearly 'Nothing'ናሙና

Receiving Something Unexpected

In this last story, we meet a man who was lame from birth and who was a beggar at the 'Beautiful Gate'. He really didn’t have much to give and lived off the little that he was given by others. One day he saw Peter and John walking by and asked them for some money. The problem was that neither of them had any money! They had nothing to give! Or did they?? We will look at the story from 2 perspectives; firstly of the beggar who had nothing and relied on others, and secondly from Peter and John’s perspective who had ‘nearly nothing’ to give but gave anyway.

Acts 3:1-10
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Sometimes it can seem like we have nothing to give or that what we can share, it isn’t the ‘right’ thing that someone may need. But here, we are reminded that even in situations that seem completely hopeless, there is always something that God can give us. Even though we don’t see another alternative when we think we have ‘nearly nothing’ left, God always has a solution and will provide for us in ways we could not imagine.

Let this story remind you that even when it may seem like you have nothing to give, God can still use you. Or if you feel like you relate more to the begging man who was waiting to receive, remember that what you ask for can often come in the form of something you didn’t ever expect!