Money Can’t Buy Love

When Simon (a former magician) saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. "Let me have this power, too," he exclaimed, "so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!" But Peter replied, "May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God's gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God." Acts 8:18-21 NLT

 

How could Simon possibly think that he could buy the Holy Spirit—acquire the very Spirit of God with money? How could he think that would enable him to do what Peter and John had just done—laid their hands on believers so that they could receive the Holy Spirit? Money can’t buy God’s love or the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is similar to the idea that some people these days give money to television evangelists thinking that they’ll get a blessing from that monetary gift. Prosperity theology. God sees the heart—and will reward those with a pure heart. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8. They’ll not only see God, but will be filled with His love and the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Prayer ~ Holy Spirit, You are good to Israel, and to those who are pure in heart! ... My flesh and my heart may fail, but God, You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of You, God is my good; I have made You, Lord GOD, my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works. Psalm 73:1, 26-28.

 

© 2015 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

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