Generosity

Acts 2:44-45 (NLT)

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.  They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.

Frankly, these verses have always troubled me because I wondered if the Bible is advocating communism or socialism?  Perhaps some Christians might believe that is exactly what these verses are teaching.  However, I personally like what Warren Wiersbe wrote -- “These verses (Acts 2:42-47) are a beautiful description of what life will be like during the kingdom age.  Acts 2 is a message to the Jewish people, so do not read into these verses truths that were not revealed until later (Paul’s epistles).  The church does not meet in the Jewish temple, nor is it required to practice communism.”[1]

All the verbs of these two verses (“met”, “shared”, “sold”) are in the imperfect tense, that is, action verbs that describe what is ongoing.  Therefore, what was sold and what was shared in those days were done from time to time as the need developed, not in total. 

However, these verses do remind me of one of the most troubling verses (at least for me) in the entire Bible.  In Luke 14:33, Jesus said “So, therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.”  I have never quite come to terms with this teaching with respect to what it really means to me (and you) today.  Most interpretations of this verse seem to say that one is being obedient to this verse if one is willing, if necessary, to give up everything.  However, I am not convinced about this interpretation.  In any case, believers in the early church were being obedient to this statement of Christ.  Think about what Luke 14:33 means to you.   

The main teaching of Acts 2:44-45 is Christian generosity.  Generosity is following Jesus’ teaching of Acts 20:35.  Our willingness to be generous has always been a challenge, but especially so in these tumultuous economic times.  Generosity is not only referring to money, but also to time and energy.  Being generous is being a good Christian steward.  Are you a generous person?  As the old saying goes, your checkbook (and charge cards) declares the extent of your generosity.  Review the following two quotes and determine where you stand.  How generous are you? 

“God judges what we give by what we keep.” — George Mueller

“The world is full of two kinds of people, the givers and the takers.  The takers eat well, but the givers sleep well.” — Modern Maturity

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[1] Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament, Chariot Victor Publishing,1992, pp. 282-283.