“Now all who believed were together,
and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided
them among all, as anyone had need.”
Acts 2:44-45
Acts 2:44-45
There was an old woman who lived in
a home by herself. She was able and in
her right mind. She would wake up every
morning and pray. She always prayed for
everyone, even her grocery list. She
knew everything she had was a blessing from God. The kicker here is she lived next to a
faithless man. He would wake up every morning and hear this old lady pray. After
some time he grew indignant with her mindless praying so he said “I’m going to
get her good.” Knowing she always prayed
for her groceries he woke up early one morning and jotted her list down as she
prayed. He slipped out the door and bought the best of every item. He neatly placed them in a basket and set
them at her front door. He then rang the door bell and ran. Hiding in the
bushes he saw her come out and see the basket. The older woman was alighted she
began to praise God. He popped out of
the bushes and said “Lady that wasn’t God, I brought you those things. See
there is no God.” Without dropping a beat she said “God will use just about
anyone to bless another.”
What a
thought! It’s funny to hear and read but it has a very serious undertone. We
read such stories and miss the meaning. We never know where our next blessing
is going to come from. If we withhold what God has generously blessed us to
liberally give to others we could easily be withholding a blessing for
another.
The early church gave without question understanding that
all of what they had came from God.
“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one
soul; neither did anyone say that anything of the things he possessed was his
own, but they had all things in common. “
Acts 4:32
Acts 4:32
“And Joses, who was also named
Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite
of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid
it at the apostles’ feet.”
Acts 4:37
Acts 4:37
These New Testament Christians were not stingy with their blessings. In fact they were just the opposite. They gave all they had to anyone in need. Many of them were already accustom to giving at least 10% of their income for a religious purpose. Both Jew and Gentile were accustomed to this. Not to mention the Jews were to give. They were accustom to giving anywhere from 10%-33% of their income. God desired such giving from the Jews. I wonder if He would be pleased with less.
Not to mention every time the growth of the Jerusalem church is mentioned it is mentioned in connection with benevolence. They had a benevolence program that beat anything anyone had ever seen. We see in Acts 2:42-47 the beginning of such giving. We see in Acts 4: 1-12; 4:32-5:16 and Acts 6:1-7 an inner-twining of preaching the word and benevolence. The issue in Acts 4:1-12 was a good deed done. Looking at verse 4 the church was growing. We see in Acts 4:34-35,
“Nor was there anyone among them who
lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought
the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet;
and they distributed to each as anyone had need.”
that no one went without.
If you continue on into Acts 5:1-11 we learn giving was a serious
matter. They did not give lightly or with contrite hearts. They gave liberally
and in a Christ-like manner. Acts 5:14 tells
us that now more than ever the church was growing. They were listening more and
believing more because of what they were seeing and experiencing. It was all
working hand in hand.
In Acts 6:1-7 the
church had grown so much they needed deacons to work in the daily distribution
to the widows. They had grown so much and were giving so much they had to have
seven men do just that work. What a place of giving and serving. In verse 7 the
church continued to grow. We are called to be the same as they were. Eph. 4:4-5
lets us know there is only one.
“There is one body and one Spirit,
just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one
baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in
you all.”
Eph. 4:4-5
Eph. 4:4-5
There is but one. Are we not all to be the same as they
were? We are called to be like Christ, walk as He walked (1 John 2:6) in
obedience. Should we not also be exhibiting the same unselfish heart and
liberal hands as Christ? He has given us
every blessing, everything. We should be willing to do the same! We are
stewards to do with our blessings as God has told us to.
God has called us to be just as unselfish and liberal with giving as He is.
Do you have the unselfish heart and liberal hands that drive a benevolence program like we see the early church had? If not what can you change?
We are often too guilty as church of Christ with believing and even proclaiming that the only guide we use for our church is the Bible. I heard someone the other day challenge the popular saying "speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent." How can we justify being silent when we don't even do what the Bible speaks about? This topic is a prime example. It starts with self evaluation and finding out where we personally fall short before we can change as a church.
ReplyDeleteLeland
Leland,
ReplyDeleteAgreed. We all need to seek and measure our selves by the word. Then and only then can we see what we need to do. As we strive to be better in Christ and be His church we must know His word.