# 10 - A Sharing Community
The Church
Defined # 10
A Sharing
Community
For the audio
link, click here: A Sharing Community
Acts 4:32, “The whole group of believers lived in harmony. No one called any of his
possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything.” (GW)
Something spectacular happened in the
early church to the multitude of people who got converted by the apostles’
preaching. In one accord they gave up
what was rightfully theirs, had everything in common, sold their properties
(land and houses) laid the proceeds at the apostles’ feet and there was no one
in the church who lacked anything. No
wonder then, that there was great power when the apostles witnessed about the
resurrection of Jesus, and God’s tremendous grace rested on all of them. (Acts 4:32 -35)
In the book of Acts there is special
mention of Barnabas who made donation by selling the land he owned, Dorcas who
was always doing good and helping the poor, Cornelius, a centurion whose
almsgiving had come up as a memorial to God, and Lydia, a seller of purple who
opened up her home to the apostles. When Paul and Barnabas were commissioned by
the apostles to the ministry among the gentiles, this was what they requested
Paul to do. In Galatians 2:10, Paul
says, “They desired only that we
should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.” (NKJV)
Jesus’ reminder to his disciples in Matthew 26:11, still holds good for us
today, that we will always have the poor amongst us. We should therefore lookout
for opportunities to extend help to those in need. However, Jesus also taught
us that our giving should be in secret with no announcements whatsoever (Matthew 6:1-4), and that when we give
to the poor we are assured of storing up for ourselves eternal treasures in
heaven (Luke 12:33)
As a community of believers, our
generosity should not be seasonal but rather a benevolence that is practiced all
through the year. In a crucial time such as this, where there are so many
individuals and families around us, struggling financially, unable to meet
basic needs we are called to step in to make a difference. Some may argue that
this is the responsibility of the government, while others might think it would
suffice to merely pray. 1 John 3:17-18
teaches us: “If someone
has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but
shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s
not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” (NLT) If every family in the church identified a few needy
families and extended help in whatever way possible, that would be a huge
witness and a practical demonstration of God’s love.
Here’s God’s word to us from Hebrews 13:16, “And don’t forget to do good, and to share with those in need. These
are the sacrifices that please God.” (NLT) Not sure who said this but it’s a beautiful
quote, “When God blesses you financially,
don’t raise your standard of living. Raise your standard of giving.”
Here’s the link to the other devotions: The Church Defined
The Life
Transforming WORD – By Esther Collins
Thank God for opening my.eyes to this truth that when we give to the poor we are storing up for ourselves eternal treasures in Heaven. Sharing with those in need also pleases God. Amen ! God bless !
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