Contrasts in Giving

September 29, 1991 am

Acts 2:43 - 47 And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from, house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 3:36 - 4:2 And Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means, Son of Encouragement), and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife, Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet.

Introduction:

We look to the scriptures for salvation truth, doctrines to believe unto salvation. We also look to the scriptures for pictures of faith, examples to follow into profitable service of our Lord. These examples, these pictures, are to be discerned and followed in spirit, not necessarily literally.

I. PICTURES OF GIVING IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

Early in the Book of Acts are key passages that bear on how some of the early Christians gave. At least, here are some observations:

  1. Acts 2: The disciples had all things common; It seems as though there was A REAL "TEAM SPIRIT" throughout the whole church, even in the matter of giving:
  2. Acts 4: Barnabas had a field that he sold and donated the money to the church; Then, as now, there were people who seemed to delight in giving— the gift of giving; there were INDIVIDUALS THAT PUT THE CONGREGATION ABOVE SELF
  3. Acts 5: Ananias lied about his giving. But also then, as now, there were INDIVIDUALS THAT TRIED TO 'USE' THE TEAM TO MAKE THEMSELVES 'LOOK GOOD'

II. BRINGING THESE PICTURES UP-TO-DATE IN TODAY'S CHURCH

THE TEAM EFFORT IN TODAY'S WORLD - Is such a thing possible?

  1. HOW MUCH LOYALTY SHOULD A CHURCH EXPECT?

    A very recent book [The Social Dimension of Sectarianism, by Bryan R. Wilson, Oxford Press, 1990] expresses what many academics probably believe:

    If a man is an Anglican or a Methodist, this is but one among many of his attributes— he is also a lathe-turner, a pigeon-fancier, a trade-unionist, a harmonica-player, and so on. But if a man is {a member of a sect- my words} ... his religious commitment is supposed by him, by his co-religionists, and even by his workmates, kinsfolk, and acquaintances, to influence in very high degree, not only his attitudes but the choice and quality of performance of all his social roles ... his religious motivation .. super-ordinates all other motivation .." 178-179. Wilson goes on to say that such behavior is deviant from the wider society in both kind and degree.

    In other words, if church and religion are kept "IN," and don't have any impact on life in general, [Wilson is saying] we are "NORMAL." Religion is a PRIVATE matter. Churches are commodities, like Super Stop 'n Shop. The church is supposed to be there to provide services and meet needs, not to make any demands!

    (I agree that) Any church that seeks to make any exclusive claim on God or salvation is by that very claim a SECT. Any church that expects its members to lock-step their way to heaven all on the same method is extremely dangerous, and should be avoided.

    But any Church that preaches Christ crucified, risen, and coming again is derelict if it does not demand a first loyalty to HIM! And yet any church that expects all-out loyalty to Christ, and expects that loyalty to be expressed mainly through the local fellowship is suspect in this pluralistic society. Every Christian can and must be centered in God through a local church fellowship. If you don't feel comfortable in one church, there are others. But if you are seeking a place where you don't have to make any kind of personal investment in your self, your time, and your means, you are mistaken about the nature of the Christian faith.

    If a church does not apply Christ's demands to put Him first, and then at least try to offer ways and means of giving to God through its ministries, it is not worthy the name.

  2. THIS SOUNDS HIGHLY IDEALISTIC, I KNOW. What are some practical applications of giving of means through the church? I've asked two members of our church board to express some personal ideas this morning. A couple of weeks ago our board prayerfully discussed the matter of stewardship. I listened to the discussion- - and afterward I asked Donna Mowen and Michael Roberts to say a few words today:

[You'll just have to imagine good testimonies to a commitment in stewardship of time, talent, and finaces here . . . 3 - 5 (?) minutes.]

III. CONTRASTS IN GIVING

THIS SCRIPTURE IN TODAY'S LIVING

  1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE ALL THINGS IN COMMON?

    Is this happening anywhere in the world today? It would be hard to recognize one method of giving or organization among the Christian churches around the world that are making an impact on their communities for Christ. But they do have this one thing in common: they live their lives for God centered in Christ, and they live those lives for God through their church!

    The center of our life is Christ. The life of Christ is expressed in His church. The basic unit of the church is the local congregation.

    I pray that God will give us a new sense of mission and unity and one-ness.

    We are NOT forced into some narrow interpretation of life, or some weird personal/corporate interpretation of rules. But we must be willing to be thought SECT-LIKE, for being a Christian and a follower of Jesus will become the most important thing in all of being.

  2. WHAT IS THE LESSON OF BARNABAS? ARE THERE MODERN-DAY BARNABASES?

    Verlin Long lived in order to give! He had the gift of giving!

  3. THERE IS ALSO A LESSON IN THE STORY OF ANANIAS: MODERN-DAY ANANIASES:

    Those who seek to use the church— who give from selfish motives— who are interested only in themselves. Some of these are still around in 1991.

    Ananias gave because he wanted the reward of being thought good like Barnabas. His sin was in pretending to be God-centered when he was not.

    It is a deadly business to seek to use God, to seek to use God's church, to seek to advance selfishly. People with a critical spirit, or an attitude of selfishness regarding the church effectively cut off the most effective tool God has to supply grace to their own lives, and those of their family.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO REACH BACK INTO THE BOOK OF ACTS AND TRANSLATE THE LESSONS WE FIND THERE INTO LIVING, GROWING SPIRITUAL LIFE? I believe that it is!

Prayer:

Lord, Help us to LOVE- love YOU and Your CHURCH- and pour our lives into Your KINGDOM as You give us grace. Make us SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF CONSOLATION, like Barnabas, I pray, in Jesus' Name.

291 All for Jesus