How many times have we been drawn by the atmosphere of the days of the first century ecclesias. How many times have we sat down and pondered the display of the spirit of love and sacrifice that was there. Have our meditations brought to us some times a feeling of guilt? Take for instance, could we live the example of those mentioned in Acts 2:44 “And all that believed were together and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had need.” There is no mistake about it these people were truly moved. Their conversion was so complete that they were now ready to impart their earthly possessions and distribute to the less fortunate. Their hearts were overflowing with thanksgiving to God for His unspeakable gift. They had found the true riches, and had embraced Christ as their master and Lord, and were determined to walk in His footsteps. They knew their Lord placed no value on material possessions. He himself stated, “The Son of man hath not where to lay His head.”
We often wonder if the Truth has really affected us in this way. Have we ever felt so thankful within to our heavenly Father for all His benefits that we would just empty ourselves, not only from the aspect of heart and mind sacrifice, but to actually express ourselves as we sing in our hymn, “Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold.”
We live in a very materialistic world and we find it very hard to release our fingers from those precious things we all love so well. Never since the days of Acts 2 has materialism been so great. Let us look around us for a moment, our homes filled with all the luxuries and labour saving devices available –the television, the hi-fi and radio set, the closet full of the best clothes that money can buy, while outside stand the latest and best car that our pocketbook will allow. Do we ever sit down and really take stock of all these things, and compare them with conditions in the first century ecclesia ? We know that many would say yes, but we are living in very different times.
Let us take another look at Acts 2:45. Would we be right in thinking that these joyous people were completely reckless in what they did ? That they completely impoverished themselves ? We think it rather likely that when the Truth found them they had many possessions beyond their immediate needs, and realizing that the new way of life in Christ Jesus required none of these things, save our food and raiment, the y accumulated their abundance and distributed to those less fortunate.
Do we ever sit down and ponder where these possessions came from in the first place ? Were they not all made possible by our Heavenly Father? Truly we have nothing that is our very own — it has all been given to us by God to use in His service. We can look back in history to the day of Abraham. God went with him on his pursuit of the kings. It was God who delivered his enemies into his hand. Was Abraham quick to lay hands upon the spoils. Paul says “consider this man Abraham.” So well engrained was this genuine feeling of giving in the patriarch’ lives that we find Jacob making a vow to God to give a tenth of all his bounty.
It would seem then from a consideration of Old Testament custom that it has always been the practice of believers to give a portion of all our bounty to the Lord. A review of 2 Cor. 9 reveals it was an early Christian habit to collect funds for those in distress, and Paul exhorts them to generosity in their giving, not grudgingly nor of necessity, but cheerfully. Paul also reminds them that the grace of God is able to make up their abundance.
It is so easy for us to become involved beyond our depths in this day and age. So let us consider a simple rule to follow when we consider our portion of service to God. Let us think of our income, whatever it may be, as a block. Cut away the first portion for our service to the Truth, and get by on the balance. Our love to our Heavenly Father for His abounding mercy to us should be so great that we rejoice in sacrifice for His service. Cheerfully dedicate His blessings to His service now, for very soon He will give to us the true riches which moth and dust cannot corrupt. “Freely ye have received, freely give.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One