The Right Reasons - Simon The Sorcerer

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. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.”

Acts 8:20-23

When the great missionary Hudson Taylor interviewed candidates for ministry in China, he typically asked them, “Why do you wish to go to a foreign mission field?”

One candidate answered, “I want to go because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Another said, “I want to go because millions are perishing without Christ.” Others gave equally good and valid answers.

Taylor responded, “All of these motives, however good, will fail you in times of testing, trials, tribulations, and possible death. There is but one motive that will sustain you in trial and testing; namely, the love of Christ.”

Sometimes intense self-examination is needed to know if we are doing things for the right reasons.

Simon the Sorcerer had a big problem with inappropriate motivation. He had heard the apostles’ preaching, had accepted their message, and had been baptized (see Acts 8:12-13). Still, he was missing something.

Simon apparently had some very real power, for the people of Samaria called him “the Great One—the Power of God” (Acts 8:10). When the apostles showed up, however, he recognized that his power paled in comparison. After his conversion, Simon approached the apostle Peter and offered him money in exchange for the power to lay hands on people and give them the Holy Spirit.

Simon apparently wanted God’s power so he could use it in the same way he had used his own: to make a profit. Peter would have none of it and sternly scolded Simon for believing that money had anything to do with the power of God. Simon remains an example, reminding us that we must be sure to serve God for the right reason—love!

There is no better motivation to serve and follow Jesus than of love for him, for our brothers and sisters in the faith, and for those who need to hear his message of salvation.