“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.” Acts 4
We all look back on this time in the earliest church right after Pentecost. It seems like an amazing time. And yet it seems like something so unrealistic to us.
Why?
What is to prevent us as Christians to live exactly like this right now?
My answer: Not one thing. Only consumerism and ideas of fairness.
I have a bold proposal for you to consider: If you have something that you don’t need and somebody else does, just give it to them. What’s so complicated about that?
This is perhaps especially true for those who really have no problems paying their bills and for whom the money they would get will not make any difference to them.
I know what we think: It’s worth this much…I paid this much for it… Those things are probably all true, but I doubt Jesus cares. Really.
If you don’t need it and somebody else does, just give it to them.
Things would change then….oh my.
Oh and the bigger the better. Not just little stuff, but anything. The more valuable the better.
Acts says that people sold properties they had and used the money to meet needs of others in their new community.
What’s the real difference between them and us?
They truly encountered the Risen Christ. When that happens on a radical level in your heart, what do money and possessions mean to you anymore? Can’t be much.
We all look back on this time in the earliest church right after Pentecost. It seems like an amazing time. And yet it seems like something so unrealistic to us.
Why?
What is to prevent us as Christians to live exactly like this right now?
My answer: Not one thing. Only consumerism and ideas of fairness.
I have a bold proposal for you to consider: If you have something that you don’t need and somebody else does, just give it to them. What’s so complicated about that?
This is perhaps especially true for those who really have no problems paying their bills and for whom the money they would get will not make any difference to them.
I know what we think: It’s worth this much…I paid this much for it… Those things are probably all true, but I doubt Jesus cares. Really.
If you don’t need it and somebody else does, just give it to them.
Things would change then….oh my.
Oh and the bigger the better. Not just little stuff, but anything. The more valuable the better.
Acts says that people sold properties they had and used the money to meet needs of others in their new community.
What’s the real difference between them and us?
They truly encountered the Risen Christ. When that happens on a radical level in your heart, what do money and possessions mean to you anymore? Can’t be much.
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