Loading... HOPED ALSO THAT MONEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN HIM - Acts 24:26
Sunday, November 30th, 2008Acts 24:26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
Felix had sat in judgment of Paul and had determined that Paul did nothing wrong. However, rather than allow Paul to go free, he desired Paul to give him a bribe before he freed Paul. Felix knew that he was not allowing some violent offender free on the street. Felix was a practical man, as long as Paul was in prison; he had peace with the religious leaders. However, if he were to personally profit by the release of Paul, then he could always hide behind the fact that Paul was innocent and deserved to be free.
Felix did not understand that he was accountable to God for every word, thought, and action. Felix instead lived his life by his own standards and what was expedient for him. Felix was in love with the power that he had and he was willing to use that power to enrich his own personal life.
Those who are of the world are no different than Felix. They run their businesses and their lives with the mindset of not what is best for others but what is best for themselves. However, we should follow the example of Paul. Paul could have simply paid the bribe money and be free to follow the perfect will of God. However, by paying a bribe, Paul would have in the eyes of many been perceived as guilty of some law since the only way he was released by prison was by paying a bribe like other corrupt individuals.
Paul understood the importance of a good name and made sure he did not do anything that would harm his ability to speak before men with a good conscience. Paul was not accountable for what Felix did, but he was accountable to God and others for his own actions. Just because Felix was doing the wrong thing, it did not create an excuse by which Paul could now do the wrong thing.
Every day you are faced with difficult decisions; do you do that which is right in the eyes of God, or do you do that which is acceptable in the eyes of the world. Every time you choose to act like the world, you diminish your testimony for God. The world is not impressed with your religion when the result of your behavior is no different than how they are acting. Why should they embrace a religion that has no power?
Paul desired to be free, but he did not love his freedom so much that he was willing to give up his clear conscience. Paul desired to obey God and go and preach the gospel in Rome, but he understood that he had to wait for the perfect timing of God. Until then, Paul simply waited on the Lord and did not do anything to compromise his relationship with God.
Felix was in love with the things of this world and he allowed the things of this world to cloud his judgment. Paul was in love with the things of God and he did not allow the desires of his heart to cause him to make a wrong decision that would harm the kingdom of God.
Paul could have justified paying a bribe to Felix, but he had diligently added temperance to his life and as such, he was able to say no to the temptations of the things of this world. Paul was more concerned about doing the right thing then doing the expedient thing and as such, God gave him a powerful ministry while he was on this earth. It would have been just a small thing to give Felix a bribe, but it would have had lasting consequences. Paul was willing to wait on the Lord and the Lord directed his steps.