Buying Power

It is said that money is the root of all evil, but isn't it what we try to do with the money that causes problems?

Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness." Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me."- Acts 4:17-24

In today's reading, Simon's education continues with a lesson in the power of God's Holy Spirit.

Peter tells him God's gift cannot be bought with money.

We know that.  When we hear what Simon was trying to do, we shake our heads and say he was foolish, thinking the Holy Spirit works that way.  But I am not so sure Simon is as wicked as Peter makes him out to be.

It is not clear that Simon wants to use this power in a bad way.  Nor do we know if he intends to make more money from it.  He doesn't say.  What he does say is that he wants to pay for it.

If we are used to getting what we want with money, wouldn't we assume the same would be true here?

The lesson Simon learns is that there is another path he can take, one that is not paved with silver and gold. 

In a way, aren't we all guilty of that influence?  Don't we see the need for money as the way out of trouble, or the way to provide solutions t=for those in need?

What non-profit organization would tell its supporters that it didn't want money?

What money does is it takes over.  It sets itself up as the only solution, and it blocks out the light of the other paths to the goal.

So, if we want to learn from Simon's lesson, we might try to think of all other paths first.  If money is not an option, what will I do?  How will I survive?  What will I need?

We may find other ways to bolster the spirit, gain strength and build up hope, leading to a better life.

There are plenty of things money can't buy.  So, maybe those things are worth trying.

More to come...