DAY 32: Generous giving

Reading: Acts 4:32-37
‘All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any
of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they
had.’ v32

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Whenever we hear the cry ‘we must return to New Testament
Christianity’, does the speaker include this passage? The early
believers were so caught up in love for God and one another, not
to mention a belief that Jesus would come again any day, that they
held everything in common. It is likely that goods remained in their
possession until such time as needed. Such communal living had a
dramatic impact. To start with, there were no needy people among
the early Christians: they looked after one another. This seems to be a
fulfilment of Deuteronomy 15:4.

Barnabas was one of those encouraging people who felt he had no
need of his possessions and so laid them at the apostle’s feet. There
was no command that he had to do so. He could have sold the field
and legitimately kept back some of the proceeds. But no, he needed
to give everything. What a contrast with Ananias and Sapphira, who
made great show of claiming to give the total proceeds of a sale to
the apostles when they had actually held back some of it. Thankfully,
church discipline is not quite so immediate and final these days!

For further reading: Nehemiah 4:7-18 - people of Jerusalem share out the tasks and
so succeed.
To ponder: What could you own in partnership with others that would enable
you to exercise communal living and better stewardship of your
resources?
To Pray: Lord Jesus, help me to see beyond this story to practical actions
for communal living. Amen.
x

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