The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them.
And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need. Acts 4:32-35 MSG
Does it make your heart swell when you read that the believers were united as one – one heart, one mind? I love reading that. Today believers run the gamut of “Christian” beliefs and ideals. Sometimes united and other times not so much.
The next part of the verse really stands out. Nobody back then was saying, “Mine, mine, mine.” They were sharing their possessions. They shared everything. Our society is definitely different from the society back then. In many cultural ways, beliefs, and morals. I could go on and on about sharing and saying that nothing is truly ours….
But the idea that popped into my head went a totally different direction. I wasn’t thinking about possessions. I was thinking more of the gifts that Jesus has given us to share with others. Some of us have been given financial blessing that we can share with others. But some of us have been given writing gifts, singing gifts, teaching gifts, encouraging gifts, artistic gifts, listening gifts, and many more gifts.
Jesus didn’t give us these gifts to hoard for ourselves. He gave them to us to share with His children. So, that none of His children would be in spiritual or physical need. We are called to share all of our gifts with people. The Scripture said, “They shared everything.” And it says that when they did that, “not a person among them was needy.”
I think the same thing can happen spiritually that happened physically in Acts 4:32-35. When we stop claiming ownership of our gifts, but instead share the gifts that Jesus has given us with everyone the body of Christ will be united as one. One heart, one mind! And no one will be spiritually needy, not one.
Until next time with Jesus’ help let’s be less messy and choose what’s better.