Acts 3 - How Should We Handle Beggars?

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Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

3 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.

The disciples now begin their mission to make disciples of all nations beginning in Jerusalem empowered by the newly acquired Holy Spirit.  They encounter a beggar, who has been lame since birth.  Since Jews were commanded to help the poor, it made sense for the man to hang out by the temple gate where observant Jews went every day for worship.  You get the sense the man had no expectation of ever been healed or having his condition change. So he lived day in and day out relying on the charity of others, with no seeming way out of his lot in life.  

So when Peter and John looked him in the eye, which I'm sure it got his attention. Most people probably flipped coins at him.  After all, like us we avoid eye contact with people who beg, are homeless or we fear.  The lame man surely saw this as a sign that Peter was going to contribute to his cause.  But Peter gave him so much more.  He gave him healing in Jesus' name.  The man began a new life of praising God for what he had done through the apostles.    

As Christians we too are called to help out those in need.  But often times it is easier for us to throw money at a someone in need to get rid of them. Or we might be trying assuage our own guilty conscience.  Of course, doing something is better than doing nothing, but I wonder if there are times God might call us to take a risk like Peter did and do more.  

Maybe we might talk with them about their family, or ask them to tell us their story.  Maybe we might spend time praying with them.  The point is we can help people with their both their physical and spiritual needs.  We can bring them bread for their soul and water to quench their spiritual thirst.  We can bring them Jesus like Peter did that day.