Unsolicited Advice
When I was a novice biker rider, I was biking through the Boston Common and encountered another cyclist coming toward me. Since both of us were in open space, we needed to coordinate our movements to avoid a collision. I veered left … then right … then feigned left only to stay somewhat straight. In short, I botched the interaction. Somehow, the other cyclist managed to navigate safely despite my indecisions. He stated clearly as we passed, “Just stay to the right.” And, he was absolutely right. In the many ensuing similar interactions, I (you guessed it) “just stay to the right” and mostly, so does the other person. No doubt, I benefited greatly from the stranger’s unsolicited poignant message.
Sometimes, God provides us an unsolicited poignant message. Scriptures tell of Simon, a man who practiced sorcery. This practitioner of divination amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention (Acts 8.9b-10a). During his many years, Simon developed a large following and his fame spread throughout the region. Then, Philip, an apostle and disciple, entered Samaria and began telling people the Good News of Jesus Christ. Many believed, and many were baptized – including Simon the Sorcerer. In fact, he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw (8.13b)
While the people we baptized, they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. (This took place in the early days of the church when some doubted whether all people could receive the Spirit.) The two leading apostles, John and Peter, traveled to Samaria and prayed the new believers might receive the Spirit. The scripture then declare: Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (8.17). Simon the Sorcerer was amazed at the two apostles’ power – even offering payment for this gift. “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” (8.19)
Peter answers with a vitriolic response: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin” (Acts 8.20-23).
Upon hearing the stinging rebuke, how will Simon respond? Here are three likely options.
When most people are corrected, they defend their position. Somehow, they reason, their accuser is mistaken and when provide more information, the accuser will realize the mistake is theirs.
Another response is attack. When someone attacks you, they reason, then you attack back – often in greater force.
Finally, on rare occasions, people repent – they turn back from their ways and acknowledge their mistake. As member of the human race, you know this choice is uncommon.
Which response does Simon the Sorcerer chose? Does he defend and explain his good intentions to the apostles? No, he does not. Does he accuse the apostles of haughtiness, perhaps reminding Peter about his denials of Jesus? No, he does. Rather, Simon chooses the third option; he repents. The Book of Acts records his response: “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me” (8.24).
For us, the next time a messenger from God raises our ire, let’s show the humility to choose option three. When someone brings the truth to us, let’s embrace its message rather than create reasons to discredit it. Sometimes, “Stay to the right” is just the message we need to hear.
