"What they owned was not their own..."

Today I read Acts 4:32-37. Six verses. Easy to read. Extremely difficult to live.

Luke tells how the first church took care of each other...how they took care of each other so no one was in need. It is amazing that a group of thousands of people, newly converted to Christ, could be so effective in eliminating need among themselves.

I've been a part of large Christian communities that number in the thousands, filled with people who been committed to Christ for many decades, and yet have not been able to come close to eliminating the need within those communities. I wonder how in the world could the first church in Jerusalem be so effective in meeting the needs which existed within that particular community, while established, mature, and organized churches with incredible resources have not been able to eliminate the needs within our congregations today?

What made it possible for there to be "no needy people among them?" I think this passage reveals two essential elements for eliminating need within a church: one, the people were united...they were one in heart and mind, and two, "they felt what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had."

I have to confess I've fallen short in these two essentials. That doesn't mean I have not given money to help people. I have given. I've probably given what might be considered by people more than my "fair share" to help people with their needs; however, I don't think I've seen myself as one with the people I've given to.

When you are "one" with someone else there is no distinction between you and the other person. You enter into their need...you assume their need as your own. That is where I fell short. I entered into their need in a sense by giving, but I didn't assume their need as my own. I always looked at their need as their need- not really mine. That allowed me to contribute something to help, but it kept me from entering, or feeling, that their need was really mine. Does that make sense?

The other key essential is one of the most difficult verses in the whole Bible for me- "they felt what they owned was not their own." It is hard for us in America to hold this view of our possessions...that our possessions don't really belong to us. After all, we worked very hard to obtain what we have. We spent hard earned, valuable money on our stuff. How can we just freely give away our stuff? And maybe even to someone who has a need because they weren't as disciplined as we were?

The Bible doesn't say what caused the needs of the people. I'm sure there were many different reasons, but it does say that the believers sold land and houses. Those are pretty significant sacrifices. It is not like they are just selling little things. Those are big possessions (even if they might have been seconded houses or other plots of land).

I think I know why the early church caught the attention of everyone. Their actions were significant. They were sacrificial. They were selfless. If the church acted the same today- became one with each other and didn't regard what we own as our own and shared with everyone in need- we would impact our communities in the same way. The world would indeed take notice. Our love would again prove ourselves to be His disciples.

Jesus, may I be united with all believers...may I truly be one with them...and may I see that my stuff is really your stuff to be used as You want.