In addition to the unity that we find in Acts 4:32 (see previous article), there was another way that the believers were united. Let’s revisit that verse, but also keep reading the next few verses…
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. 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 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 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Acts 4:32-35 NIV
Let’s not miss the point in verse 33 where “the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus”. Personal witnessing about what the apostles knew to be true about Jesus’ resurrection wasn’t confined to a Pentecost sermon. It continued, just as – for followers of Jesus – our testimony about what it means to live with Jesus should continue today.
To help out those in the early church who had physical needs, it was going to take more than just being united in heart and mind (or soul). When someone is hungry, they need food. When someone lacks proper clothing for the environment, they need clothes. James 2:14-17, for instance, talks pretty clearly about the importance of actions (resulting from faith).
And so, there were practical steps that were taken to help those in need. Property was liquidated, and the proceeds were given to the apostles for distribution.
(As an aside, can you imagine what might happen if we tried to do this today? What if people who gave to the church brought the amount in cash and set it at the preacher’s feet? I guess that this might not be bad: while it might seem weird to some people, doing so shows a trust in the recipient to correctly distribute the funds, and sets an example for others.)
Combining what we find here with verse 32, the believers appear to have had unity in pretty much all aspects of what makes us human: heart, mind (or soul), and body.
We also have a specific example (see Acts 4:36-37) from a guy who had been given the name Barnabas. Luke (the author of Acts) introduces him to readers here, but Barnabas shows up multiple times in this book of the Bible, and is mentioned in a few of the epistles.
I believe that we are called to give everything to God. That doesn’t mean we must all walk around on the street, starving and in our last set of clothes, but a first step towards a correct perspective is to realize that God already owns everything, and merely lets us take care of some things as stewards. He often allocates some of what we are stewarding for our benefit, so that we can have food, clothing, and shelter. However, we should be ready to do whatever He asks us to do, with anything and everything that He has entrusted to us.
(By the way, leaders in the church are in a similar situation. Although followers of Jesus belong to God, having been bought back from the consequences of their sins at a great price, God often entrusts leaders that He has appointed to care for certain congregations. We might use the term “shepherds”, but church leaders are shepherds of Someone else’s sheep.)
Once we acknowledge the truth that everything is God’s, though, it becomes much easier to use what He has given us to manage for His purposes. So…
- Maybe He will call you to sell something and give all of the money to help those in need.
- Maybe He will call you to sell something and give some of the money to help those in need.
- Or, maybe He will call you to retain and invest what you have, for another purpose or for another time.
The key is not in following some human formula about what to do with what God has entrusted to us. The key is in realizing who really owns our belongings, and in being ready to listen to God’s instructions for what to do with them next.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for October 1, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, October 1, 2023, © 2023 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Acts, by Dennis Gaertner. © 1993 College Press Publishing Co.
- New Testament History: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Acts, by Gareth L. Reese. © 1976, College Press Publishing Company.
Those Who Sin Differently 
I must admit, I sometimes dislike unity. It’s a lot of work. But I like disunity way less.
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Good point! I agree that sometimes the only thing more difficult than a good thing is the alternative.
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