I worked one summer while I was in seminary as an intern at a church in a community I had never been to before. It was a summer program, but it was during an election year, and several times that summer the mayor attended. He was a member of the church, but several people (including the pastor) told me that when it wasn’t an election year, he didn’t attend all that often—but his attendance picked up considerably when he was going to be up for reelection. It seemed obvious to these people that his reason for being part of the church had more to do with his political ambitions than with his commitment to his faith. He may not have realized that, at least to some people, this seemed obvious, and transparently ambitious.
We do connect with the church to help ourselves, but we ought not to in ways that seek to exploit the church’s help for individualistic personal gain. That seems to happen, however—and we have in this story from Acts 8:9-24 the first recorded time that it happened. Simon was a magician in Samaria, and he was so amazing that the people called him “Great”—seeing his magic as a God-given gift—and because of his magical skill he had such respect that they listened to what he had to say, because of his perceived connection with God. Then the disciple Philip comes to Samaria, preaches about Jesus, and many respond, including Simon, who followed Philip around, amazed at the “signs and great miracles that took place” (Acts 8:15b) as the power of the Holy Spirit was at work. The disciples Peter and John came, laid hands on those who believed, prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit, and they did.
Simon decided that he wanted in on this power, to be able to do even more magical things than he had already been able to do, and so he asked how much money it would cost him to get in on the Holy Spirit. Peter realizes what Simon’s motivation is—which is clearly not the motivation of the others who have been prayed over, and responds pretty pointedly to Simon: “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.” (Acts 8:20-22)
As can be true for many of us who follow Jesus, sometimes we get our own motivations, priorities, ambitions, and egos in the way of what Jesus would want. Sometimes it’s because all we can think about is getting ahead; sometimes all we can think about is surviving. Sometimes it is because we fear the loss of influence, and we want to hang onto that; sometimes we see it as a way to get more influence. In any case, what we need to do is just what Simon needed to do—pray about it, and come to the realization that his priorities were out of whack.
The good news for Simon is that it seems he did—and he recognized that he needed help not to fall back into those misplaced priorities. He responds to Peter’s rather biting words to him this way: “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.” (Acts 8:24).
Sometimes we need reminders about our priorities, and God’s priorities, and it’s never a bad idea for ask for help with that, even as we ourselves keep things in check by prayer.
NEW TESTAMENT Acts 8:9-24
9 Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. 10 All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, ‘This man is the power of God that is called Great.’ 11 And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, ‘Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ 20 But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! 21 You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.’ 24 Simon answered, ‘Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.’