And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Acts 3:4-7 NKJV

You cannot claim who you are, as a child of God, if you’re looking to anyone or anywhere else than God. Unknowing or knowingly, some people are accomplished manipulators, or even extortionists. They’ll use guilt, compliments, praise, just to get what they want from you. But the problem is they don’t realize they are beggars because they are looking to other people expecting to receive something. The lame man who was laid daily at the Temple gate was a beggar because he looked, not to God, but to those who entered the temple to receive alms (Acts 3:2-3).

Begging for “hand-outs” don’t solve problems; but receiving a God-ordained “hand-up” resolves larger problems. When the lame beggar asked for money, Peter, along with John, fixed his eyes on him and said, “Look at us”, and the beggar gave them his attention, expecting to receive something.   Peter shifted the beggar’s attention from money to something that would remove him from being a beggar forever—something much better! What could be better than strong feet to stand and legs to walk for a lame man?

We often pray to ask God to solve our small problems, but He wants to resolve the larger problems and give us a whole new life; we ask for what we want and God gives us what we really need; and, like the beggar, we ask for money but He gives us something better than money (Acts 3:4-6; 8:18-20).

Like Peter and John, we can help bring people out of a “beggar-state” by being willing to give them what we have. This was the secret of healing and miracles in Jesus’ earthly ministry, i.e., what he had, He gave (John 6:23-29). We have authority in Jesus’ name, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God. Silver and gold can’t heal nor deliver you in the day of trouble (Ezek. 7:19). Yes, there is something much better than silver and gold!