This study was first taught on August 30, 2020

Topic: Silver and Gold and the Work of God

(use the audio to study)

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Background
In our meeting last week, we made some observations as it concerns “silver and gold”—money, wealth, riches, possessions, etc. We noted that silver and gold:<ul>
<li>Is an object of worship among unbelievers but not among believers.</li>
<li>Can be a competing, compelling, and enslaving master, if you yield to it.</li>
<li>Can be loved to the detriment of its lover—it can be likened to a black widow spider.</li>
<li>Can make you forget God.</li>
<li>Gives a false sense of security to those who trust in it.</li>
<li>May be useful but you can do without it in certain situations:
<ul><li>Wisdom and understanding better than money</li>
<li>A prudent wife better than an inheritance</li>
<li>A good name to be preferred that riches</li> </ul>
<li>Cannot save a man’s soul.</li> </ul>
In God’s assessment, true wealth is determined by how much you have left after you have given what you have. Thus, distribution is what God expects of the rich, not accumulation; and, sharing is what God desires, rather than hoarding. We need contentment not covetousness; a re-orientation on dealing prudently with silver and gold, not ostentatious living!

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 3:1-8
We shall continue from where we stopped last week, and his time, we shall look at silver and gold with respect to the work of God—ministry.
Today, we want to look at money and ministry, as we look at Peter’s statement, "<em>Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee . . .</em>"
We shall discuss the issue by asking and answering some relevant questions and then, we shall make one or two statements and go into prayers.
1 Timothy 6:6-11; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Philippians 3:8-14; 2 Corinthians 11:16ff; 12:1-10; John 6:1-14; Matthew 16:5-12, 19; Haggai 2:6-9; John 3:27; 1 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; Luke 12:31-34.

Conclusion
As it turned out, what Peter had (which was given to him by God) brought deliverance for the lame man, not silver and gold! Our pursuit of riches is unscriptural (<strong>1 Timothy 6:8-12</strong>). Silver and gold for the work of God is provided for by the God of the work. Anything more is superfluous!

Each one of us has been given one gift (at the very least) from heaven—let us use such gifts to be a blessing (<strong>Romans 12:4-8; Acts 20:35</strong>). Let us learn from the Lord Jesus’ ministry (<strong>Luke 8:1-3</strong>), and when the Lord asked Peter to go catch a fish by which they paid their taxes (<strong>Matthew 17:27</strong>), he did not ask him to return to a career of fishing! Silver and gold is to be used to serve God, and not for our selfish purposes.

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