This morning I went for a walk. The weather was beautiful – sunny, blue skies, about 78 degrees. As I walked around the block, I saw many of our neighbors working in their yards or on other projects around their home. Soon I started thinking, “I wish we owned our own home."
Then, as quickly as that thought entered my mind, so did the Scripture I had read in my devotions just hours earlier:
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet , and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement) … sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
-- Acts 4:32-37
Here I was, wishing I owned my own home, and the believers of the early church who already owned their own houses and lands sold them and gave the proceeds to the church! They were more concerned about building God's kingdom than they were their own equity. One of them was even called Barnabas, "son of encouragement." Imagine the blessing these people were to one another, and how blessed they felt by each other!
Instantly I stopped wishing for my own home and started wishing for that spirit to dominate my life and my church today!
Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that it is God’s will for everyone to sell their homes and give the proceeds to the church! Indeed, the following chapter makes it clear that this was a voluntary act on the part of these people and that their property or the proceeds they received from their property was theirs to do with as they wished. But the thing that struck me was how readily everyone gave up what belonged to him or her for the sake of the church. Their love for God’s kingdom and His people was so strong, that they saw their possessions as resources to be used in the life and mission of the church!
Notice that during this time there was “great power” in the proclamation of the gospel, and “great grace was upon them all.” What I wouldn’t give to experience such a work of God here and now!
I guess that’s the crux of the matter, isn’t it? Perhaps that statement should be phrased in the form of a question: What wouldn’t I give to experience such a work of God here and now?
How much do you long to experience God’s empowering presence in your life … in your home … in your church? What would you be willing to give up to see such a work of God?
This morning was a great reminder to me to hold material possessions loosely … if at all. What I want more than possessions is God’s manifest presence and power in my life, and in the lives of my wife and children – and in the life of the church that I pastor. May each of us treasure the Lord Jesus Christ, His kingdom, His people, and our home in heaven more than anything else on earth.
Then, as quickly as that thought entered my mind, so did the Scripture I had read in my devotions just hours earlier:
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet , and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement) … sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
-- Acts 4:32-37
Here I was, wishing I owned my own home, and the believers of the early church who already owned their own houses and lands sold them and gave the proceeds to the church! They were more concerned about building God's kingdom than they were their own equity. One of them was even called Barnabas, "son of encouragement." Imagine the blessing these people were to one another, and how blessed they felt by each other!
Instantly I stopped wishing for my own home and started wishing for that spirit to dominate my life and my church today!
Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that it is God’s will for everyone to sell their homes and give the proceeds to the church! Indeed, the following chapter makes it clear that this was a voluntary act on the part of these people and that their property or the proceeds they received from their property was theirs to do with as they wished. But the thing that struck me was how readily everyone gave up what belonged to him or her for the sake of the church. Their love for God’s kingdom and His people was so strong, that they saw their possessions as resources to be used in the life and mission of the church!
Notice that during this time there was “great power” in the proclamation of the gospel, and “great grace was upon them all.” What I wouldn’t give to experience such a work of God here and now!
I guess that’s the crux of the matter, isn’t it? Perhaps that statement should be phrased in the form of a question: What wouldn’t I give to experience such a work of God here and now?
How much do you long to experience God’s empowering presence in your life … in your home … in your church? What would you be willing to give up to see such a work of God?
This morning was a great reminder to me to hold material possessions loosely … if at all. What I want more than possessions is God’s manifest presence and power in my life, and in the lives of my wife and children – and in the life of the church that I pastor. May each of us treasure the Lord Jesus Christ, His kingdom, His people, and our home in heaven more than anything else on earth.