'TIS THE SEASON FOR GIVING

I'm quoting from Acts 3:1-8. "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.  And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms.  And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John said, Look on us.  And he gave heed to them, expecting to receive something of them.  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  And he took him by the right hand and lift him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength, and he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God". 
No doubt, Peter and John had seen this man begging for alms before.  After all, he was laid at the gate of the temple every day and Peter and John entered the temple every day to pray.  Why didn't Peter and John bring some money from home knowing that there was a lame man who needed money?   Perhaps Jesus had seen this man during His earthly ministry.  Jesus had been in Jerusalem and had been to the temple where he overthrew the tables of the money changers and declared that the temple should be a house of prayer.
Why didn't Peter, John, and Jesus give the man what he wanted?  I believe the answer to that question is found in Romans 8:14 which reads, "For as many as are LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, they are the sons of God."  
I don't believe there was a lack of compassion on their part.  They had devoted their lives to ministry.  But the Holy Spirit knew what the man really needed...and it wasn't just money to buy a loaf of bread!  What the man needed was to be made whole.  The Holy Spirit looked past the fruit of the situation and addressed the root of it.
If Peter and John had been led by the man, he may have spent the rest of his life a beggar and a cripple.  Instead of being led by the need, Peter and John, led by the Holy Spirit, addressed what the man really needed.
Romans 5:5 declares that the "love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.."  It's true, God has given us a heart of compassion.  But Ephesians 1:17 also declares that God gives us an "a spirit (heart) of WISDOM..."  As the Holy Spirit leads us, He NEVER works apart from love AND WISDOM.  What if someone had given the "prodigal son" a Big Mac and a Quarter Pounder with fries every day as he was feeding pigs?  Do you think he would have "come to himself" and returned to his father's house?  The man had squandered his father's inheritance with corrupt, riotous living and had been reduced to feeding another man's hogs.  He was so hungry he "would have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat." (Luke 15:16) The Bible declares that "The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on." (Proverbs 16:26 NIV). The prodigal's hunger worked for him that day for he humbly returned to his father's house and was reinstated to a place of honor and provision!
There were times Jesus gave bread and fish to the multitudes.  At other times He gave instructions to fishermen who obeyed and filled their nets with fish!  Why did He perform a miracle on one occasion and on another give practical advice?  The answer...HE WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD!  
This is the season for giving.  Much time will be spent surfing the internet and walking store isles in search of gifts.  What will we purchase?  Will we take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance?  He may have us give a gift package of "Omaha Steaks" or a gift card to "Red Lobster."  He may have us buy a book filled with practical advice.  He may have us give them both!
This Christmas, let's acknowledge the Lord as we give.  It may lift a man up and out of a desperate situation and send him on his way "walking, and leaping, and praising God!"