But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” (Acts 3:6 – NASB)
Whenever the church has become wealthy, it has generally lost its power to heal.
Now I know this is a generalization, and money is often needed to do the Lord’s work. But that’s not what I’m talking about. I am talking about a pre-occupation with money as the primary means to accomplish the mission of the church.
I once suggested to a denominational hierarchy the need to start a work in a certain area. Their response: We don’t have any money to start that work.”
I’m not sure if I actually told them this, but my heart answered, “You don’t need a lot of money. All you need is someone with a call of God upon them – someone with a passion to share the Gospel. That man or woman will find a way, with little or much, to spread the Word and win people to Christ.”
Not Silver or Gold
Give me a man, or a woman, or child
With the love of God in their heart and mind,
Rather than a church with treasure high piled,
Yet faintness of heart in the pew still find.
There’s nought to compare with a holy, zeal,
That will live or die for the Master’s cause.
To find a man who in his breast can feel
True love for God and His holy, just laws.
It’s a treasure beyond all earthly gain,
It will bring down upon you Heaven’s smile;
It will comfort the heart and banish pain,
And create a soul that is without guile.
Silver and gold you may not have to give,
But the power of love will cause men to live.
Author Profile
Born in South Africa in 1943, Christopher Shennan really began to live on the 29th of August 1967, when he was born again through the power of Jesus Christ. Since then, only one passion has consumed him: to communicate the love of Christ through any and every means at his disposal.
Christopher and his family served as missionaries in Zimbabwe where he established a church amongst the Shona tribe before moving to Canada in 1984. Since his so-called “retirement” in 2008, his involvement in Bible teaching, counseling, even pastoring a church in Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia, has kept him busy.
With thirteen published books behind him, his passion is to pass on all God has taught him to the next generation. There are six new novels and numerous non-fiction projects he expects to take him the rest of his life.