Many of us tend to follow a practice where we will give some money as contribution and in return we will receive the blessings. Giving money for any noble cause or tithing is ok, but the motive in which we approach our earthly blessing to say if we give, I will get so much is wrong and a Sin.
When you read Acts 8:9-25, We read about a person named Simon who was rebuked by the Apostles on this attitude. We can learn a great deal to improve our Spiritual maturity from this incident
A brief introduction of Simon
'Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. ' Acts 8:9-11
In Bible sorcery is associated with occult, magical practices, whatever real power Simon had, it was from Satan, not God.
People were amazed as they heeded to Simon because he had astonished them with his sorceries, The Samaritans wrongly assumed that Simon had real spiritual power, but they were wrong.
Now as the apostles were persecuted, they scattered and one of the chosen by apostles named Philip came to Samaria seeing his work of Holy Spirit to heal many people believed Phillip more than Simon as they felt was real
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ: Those who had previously been astonished by Simon and his sorceries, now believed Philip and what he preached. He brought the message of the gospel and they believed it.
Many people started coming to Christian faith, but without the touch of Holy Spirit. you may term this to be like how many of them turn to God today just by their human Instincts.
Simon was convinced by Philip’s preaching and amazing miracles, to the point where he was baptized, and continued with Philip. Simon became a follower of Philip and his ministry. At this point – up to Acts 8:13 – there is nothing to indicate that Simon’s belief was false or insincere. Yet it will be tested by his conduct and response over time.
Gift of God and Money
'When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. ' Acts 8:14-17
Now when the apostles (Peter and John) head that Samaria is being blessed with many people turning to Christ, they come to see them, they realise that all the people who have accepted Christ are people who have not been filled with Holy Spirit, because in early church ,Christians were called so, only if they accepted Christ and received the Holy Spirit, they felt the need to Baptise people with Holy Spirit.
“When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them “ - So they laid hands on people so that they may receive that freely. They received the Holy Spirit.
'When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ' Acts 8:18-19
When Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given: Simon noticed that when Peter and John laid hands on the Samaritans and prayed for them, something happened. He was impressed by that.
He offered them money: Simon thought that the Holy Spirit was merely a power that could be bought or sold. He wanted to control the working of the Spirit and regarded the Holy Spirit as a power he could use as he wanted, instead of a Person who ruled his life.
'Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” 'Acts 8:20-23
Simon was so wrong that he deserved this strong rebuke. Phillips translates the phrase your money perish with you like this: To hell with you and your money.
This accurately described Simon’s heart. Yet Peter didn’t attempt to cast a demon of bitterness or iniquity out of him. Instead, Peter called him to repentance (Repent therefore), to prayer (pray God), and to righteousness (dealing with the thought of your heart).
Lessons we can learn from this
There are many of us like Simon who think that the money we have can buy the eternal glory and spirit. we feel by giving a portion of money we can earn the spiritual blessing of God, there are some pastors who demand money in the name of God, both are Sinful in eyes of God
God sent his son Jesus as an atonement for our sin, he did this only for us to be free from sin, all this was done freely to each one of us, so anything you receive from God is free no one can demand money for that, nor one can buy this thru money
Many times, our motives are not exposed like how Simon got exposed, let’s not assume what we do is always right, look at the motives deep in your heart when you give money to God or when you do some charity work, if the intent is to expect more in return, then it’s like another Simon.
Like how the apostles told to Simon, let’s repent and ask for Jesus’s forgiveness to get his mercies and blessings. If we repent and turn away from the old ways, God recognises our behaviour to bless us more spiritually and materially.
Remember God does not need your money, he is the banker for the world. He expects the attitude in which we come to him and how we honour him first, He expects us to honour him from our heart. and our motives and actions are genuine to his cause. money is not a criteria he uses to shower his blessings on us.
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