Day 971: The ideal, and the reality - Acts 4 vs 31 – 5 vs 2

31 When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34-36 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

37 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. Chapter 5:1-2 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. Acts 4:31- 5:2 English Standard Version

The Church had a beautiful beginning! Verse 31 tells us that, having been threatened by the authorities in Jerusalem, the believers responded by asking God to give them boldness to preach the message of salvation from sin through the Lord Jesus Christ. God gave a very tangible sign that He had heard their prayer. The place where they were gathered was shaken, and they experienced a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. While that was a powerful physical sign, what was the less spectacular, but equally wonderful event that was taking place among those first believers? (vs 32-33)

While God accompanied the preaching of the twelve apostles of Christ with some amazing miracles, the people who were being saved began to demonstrate amazing love. Their world view had been transformed. They were no longer focusing on themselves, but on others who, like themselves, had experienced God's forgiveness of their sins, and the joy that knowing God was now their friend brings. They embraced a lifestyle from love, which some political parties try to force on people through fear.

Verses 34-36 describe how the process worked. Those who were wealthy willingly began to share with those who were genuinely in need. It's possible that many who owned more than one house or field were people who had 'given to the poor' before, but in some cases it may well be that grace had replaced their greed. They were like the rich young man who asked Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life. He was a man who had earnestly tried to keep God's commands, and Jesus had looked with compassion upon him. But then Jesus said to him:“You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Mark 10:21.

Mark tells us that that the man was disheartened by what Jesus said, and “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:22) Jesus didn't say that to everyone who approached Him, and the apostles didn't command the first Christians to do what we read in Acts. The problem is when our possessions possess us. In contrast, we are introduced in vs 37 to a man named Joseph, later called Barnabas, who was willingly doing what Jesus had advised the rich young man to do. He is singled out by name because he was going to have a significant role in the early Church, which we will see later in the book of Acts.

I am so grateful that the Holy Spirit led the man named Luke to write the things that took place in the years when the Church took shape in the world. Because what we see is an 'ideal' picture, but one that is quickly followed by reality. Ananias and Sapphira introduce us to the shortcoming that is still true of so many Christians. They gave the Lord 'a part' of their life - but kept something back. As we will see as we go further, it wasn't a matter of money, but integrity. And the challenge for us is, are we truly in our heart, what we look like on the outside to others?