Having all things in common

Saturday, April 24, 2010
Acts 4:32-37

V32 reminds me of the phrase, “what’s yours is mine, what’s mine is yours”. The early believers had all things in common. No one said that what they owned was theirs. Imagine how far we would go if everyone in this world had the same mentality.

The next verse starts like this, “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” It doesn’t state clearly in scripture, but I think that they had great power simply because of the verse before it, that everyone’s common became a great force for the apostles to witness for Jesus. There were people supplying their needs while they preached, thus supporting them in the ministry. Even then they were of one heart and one soul. Even though some of them were the preachers and others were the suppliers, none complained.

And that is what makes the movement in that time amazing. The next verse goes on to let us know that nobody lacked, because all who had gave to those who lacked so that each may not have to worry but be focused on carrying the gospel further.

Scripture tells us that “all things under heaven and on earth are God’s”. Therefore, we are only stewards of the treasures we possess. We know sincerely well that none of us are going to bring with us what we have after death. So “do not make mammon your master”. Do not let the riches of this world enslave you from doing good. For Jesus did say, “Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Don’t get me wrong, saving is good, saving is wise. You don’t have to spend every cent to help others. If possible, I would even encourage you to invest your money to churn up more money. However, do not go to the extent that you keep every cent that you own because it is going to be hard to give it away when you encounter someone else in need, even a stranger. “For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”