Acts: Sharing What God Gives You

Acts 4:32-37 New International Version (NIV)

The Believers Share Their Possessions

³² 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. ³³ 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 ³⁴ 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 ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), ³⁷ sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

In verses 32-34, the members of the first church cared about each other. They did not just say that they cared. They showed their love by what they did. They would share their things with anyone who needed them. Some believers owned land or houses. If anyone needed money, these people sold their land or houses. Nobody forced them to do this. They wanted to help each other.

Luke reminds us about Jesus’ resurrection. This was the reason why the church began. It is the reason why the church is here today. Jesus is alive!

In verses 35-37, the Greek words here mean that people would put the money down ‘at the apostles’ feet’. This showed that people were offering it to God.

Luke mentions Barnabas’s gift. Barnabas was from the large group that were all Levi’s relatives. Each Israelite belonged to a large group or tribe like this. There were 12 such large families, the 12 tribes of Israel. Levi’s group served God in the Temple. Later in ‘Acts’, we can read more about Barnabas. He traveled with Paul and he worked with him.

A lot of times we hear about what we ought to be doing for God. But in reality, God has done way more for us that we could ever repay. God continues to give and give and give, and we need to continue to receive and receive and receive. Because they were such receivers of God’s grace, they were also great givers to the needs around them.

The key to giving is receiving.

I wonder if some of us have stopped being so gracious towards each other because we’ve stopped receiving God’s grace in our lives. Not that He isn’t still giving grace, but we have stopped recognizing it.

It’s not that everybody who had any property were being forced to sell all their possessions and give everything to the church. Those that sold and brought money into the church did so on their own, of their own will, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (we’ll see this in Acts 5:4)

2 Cor 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Giving should not be done because somebody twists your arm, but because God has put it on your heart, and because you have a cheerful desire to do it.

It’s not necessarily how much you give, it’s how willingly and cheerfully you give that counts.

If a person in the church had a real need, the apostles’ would help by distributing some of the funds toward that need.

It’s kind of like what we do as a church, when we are made aware of a need, the elders have a fund to work with to help meet the needs within our body.

But please, don’t lay any money at my feet!