The Heart of God Towards the Poor and SufferingSample

One of the distinguishing characteristics of the new Christian community as described in the Book of Acts was care for those in need. Following the example of their Lord, the early church found ways to care for the needy in their midst. Acts 4 describes a community where everyone gave of their own possessions and no one needed. What an incredible picture of true fellowship! To understand this better, we must understand why they were so willing to give. What compelled them to be so giving? Verse 32 says that no one said that anything they had belonged to them. In our society today, it’s very different. Americans particularly work very hard to obtain and maintain wealth and material possessions. However, for those in the early Church, no one considered their property, their property. Every believer must come to the convicting awareness that nothing we have is our own. It’s important to understand that everything within our care is God’s and God’s alone. It is He who chooses to give us many good things and all that He asks is that we be good stewards of it. In reaching those in need, we must be aware that what we have is not our own and is to be used however God sees fit to use it. If God is prompting you to sell something of value or urging you to give up an expensive hobby in order to help others, don’t delay being obedient for a moment! What if the Church, meaning those believers that make up the Body, were aware that what they have is God’s and were willing to give it away should God so desire? Think of the tremendous need that could be met all over the world! Today, take a mental inventory of what you have and ask God to show you how you might be a better steward of those things. Ask him if there is anything you can give so that others may have.