“and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them
among all, as anyone had need.”
I
remember an old church I went to where the pastor stood up at the end of the
worship and walked to the pulpit. There he said, “I hate to say it, everyone –“
and he shook his head, pausing for dramatic effect. Then he slammed his hands
down on the wood, making the entire front row jump, and yelled, “But we’re in
need!” He then lamented about the state of the church’s finances and the need
to step up for the church, and in turn step up for Jesus. Then he asked for
those who felt the call, to come up and put some money on the stage where he
stood. I then watched as many people stood up, holding their wallets or
checkbooks and run to the stage where there they finally took out a pen or
pulled out their money. The whole thing made me feel rather sick.
It
wasn’t the giving to the need that made me sick, it was the dramatic way it was
proposed and then answered. The pastor screaming from the pulpit that the
people didn’t care about Jesus anymore, and the people running to the front and
showing the entire congregation the fat wad of cash they had just dropped. In
fact, it reminds me of Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5, who sold property and
gave the money to the church, but they withheld some. They gave for show.
These
early church people, however – who had all things in common and were all in
fear of the Lord – they saw the needs of the widows and orphans and those in
poverty within their congregation. They didn’t give out of the need to be showy
or to give back to God in pennance for their sins, as I’ve also seen some
churches do. These believers knew that though giving wasn’t a requirement – it
was the product of the love they had for each other.
This
love is missing today! Where is our love and compassion? Where is giving where
there is a need – even if it is where no one will see our wonderful deed? Where
is giving for Christ’s sake?
The
Lord Jesus said, “Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me
food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison
and you came to Me… Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did It to one of
the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
We
give because of the need, and because we seek to please God in everything we
do. We need to learn to give and share from a place where we simply want to be
helpful, not for show. Today, I will give to someone, simply to give.
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