How does Acts 8:20 warn against seeking God's gifts for personal gain? Context: Simon the Sorcerer Acts 8 records Philip preaching in Samaria, where many believed, including Simon, a well-known magician. When Peter and John arrived to lay hands on the new believers so they might receive the Holy Spirit, Simon offered them money, hoping to obtain the same ability. The Heart of the Warning Acts 8:20: “But Peter replied, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!’” • God’s gifts are unpurchasable; they flow from His grace alone. • Attempting to buy them treats the Holy Spirit as a commodity rather than as the holy, sovereign presence of God. • Peter’s rebuke equates greedy motives with spiritual ruin, showing that such thinking imperils both the gift seeker and his resources. Diagnostic Signs of Wrong Motives • Pursuit of ministry influence for self-promotion or applause. • Viewing spiritual power as a means to gain financial profit or status. • Measuring effectiveness by material return rather than by faithfulness to God. • Resentment when gifts are given to others instead of self. Why Such Motives Are Dangerous • They contradict the very nature of grace (Romans 11:6). • They elevate mammon over God (Matthew 6:24). • They open the door to every kind of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). • They provoke divine judgment, as seen in the fate Peter pronounces. Proper Attitude Toward God’s Gifts • Receive them humbly, acknowledging they originate solely from the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11). • Use them to serve others, not self (1 Peter 4:10). • Guard the heart from envy and greed (Proverbs 4:23). • Seek God Himself above all benefits He provides (Psalm 73:25-26). Walking It Out Today • Practice gratitude for any ability or resource entrusted by God. • Give freely without expecting repayment (Matthew 10:8). • Invest time in private devotion, ensuring motives remain God-centered. • Celebrate the gifting of others, affirming that the same Lord distributes to each as He wills. Supporting Scriptures • James 4:3 — selfish motives hinder prayer. • 1 Corinthians 12:7 — gifts are “for the common good.” • 2 Kings 5:20-27 — Gehazi’s greed for Naaman’s gifts brings judgment. • Proverbs 15:27 — “He who is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household.” |
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