Today’s meditation is based on Acts 4:32, “The group of believers was one in mind and heart. None of them said that any of their belongings were their own, but they all shared with one another everything they had.” (GNB)
Those of us who have been born again as children of God, and have the assurance that our sins are forgiven, have the responsibility to be watchful about the way we live. The above mentioned verse talks about a group of believers in the early church who were of one mind and one heart. None of them kept their possessions for themselves, but willingly shared, and had everything in common.
When we speak about ‘one heart’ it implies that all of them thought about the same things. We may wonder how this was possible, but the fact is that when we earnestly desire to live as true children of God, we can achieve this oneness of heart. The early believers also had ‘one mind’ which means that their desires were only on one thing. The one thing that united their thought and desire was the fact that their lives here on earth was temporary, and that the life to come was eternal. They realized that everything that that they possessed on the earth was transient, and none of it would remain unto eternity. No wonder then that they did not want to use their worldly wealth for selfish gain, but rather had a generous heart to share with those in need.
The thing that we need to check about ourselves is to see if we have comprehended this truth. Oftentimes we are so caught up with the temporary, and the mundane wanting to save for ourselves, and the generations to come. This is necessary, but if this is the only thought on our minds, we will be disappointed because our life on earth will surely end abruptly, and will take us unawares. These are days when we should reset our priorities, so that we can focus primarily on the eternal, and place the earthly in secondary place. By doing so, we will be blessed and we will become a blessing to others.
Store up treasures in heaven
These are the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:20-21, “Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are.” (GNB)
Jesus did not say not to store up treasures, but rather He taught that we store up our riches in heaven where moth and rust won’t destroy, and thieves can’t break in to steal. We have the option to store up treasures on earth or in heaven, and we are cautioned to be wise to see that we are investing in the right place. Our treasures in heaven are in a secure place, and nothing can destroy it. We are further reminded that our hearts will be set on the place where our treasures are laid up. As we examine our lives we can find out what is that treasure, based on what draws all of our attention on. For some material things are their treasure, and they are never content with what they have. This leads to them wanting more and more, makes them selfish, temporary minded, and thereby forget about the Lord, and miss out on eternity.
Share with those in need
The believers in the early church were different in that they sold their belongings to help those who were destitute and needy. Their hearts were filled with compassion, and this is what they did.
We read in Acts 2:45, “They sold their land and the things they owned. Then they divided the money and gave it to those who needed it.” (ERV)
The money they had saved for their personal needs were sold, and this was divided and shared among those who had various needs. They obeyed the words of the Lord Jesus, and did exactly as He had commanded them to.
Strangely, these are days when the money that is given for specific purposes are siphoned to meet people’s personal needs. We must be careful to live with integrity during these days.
Invest for eternity
These are the words of Jesus in Luke 16:9, "I tell you, use the worldly things you have now to make 'friends' for later. Then, when those things are gone, you will be welcomed into a home that lasts forever. (ERV)
Kindly take time to read Luke Chapter 16 when you can. The Lord reminds us that the end is sure to come, and so we are admonished to use worldly things to invest in eternity. Everyone who is born into the world comes with nothing, and it is the same for everyone who leaves this world, but often we forget this fact. Our day of birth and day of death are a certainty which no one can change. However, in that in between period, we are to keep in mind that we are just stewards of all that God has entrusted to us. It is therefore extremely important that we handle these things that are invested to us well. We can either use it for our own temporal pleasures, or we can use them to invest in eternity, and this is something we need to give much thought to.
A good example in the early church
We read in Act 4:37, “Joseph sold a field he owned. He brought the money and gave it to the apostles.” (ERV)
The important point to note is that the Apostles did not ask anyone to sell their property, and give it to the church. All of them continued in the work that God had assigned to them. They were helping those who were destitute, and at the same time preaching the word of God as the Lord Jesus had commanded them to. Nonetheless, since all of them were of one mind and heart they realized that there were needs of others that needed to be met. This was one of the main reasons for the tremendous growth in the early church. Everyone looked not only on their own interest, but on the interest of others, and the result was that the gospel of the Lord Jesus and the Kingdom of God spread far and wide. Love was what motivated the believers to respond this way.
Joseph who was part of the early church also sold his field, brought the money, and laid it at the Apostle’s feet. I am sure that the Apostles must have appreciated this act, blessed him, and the believers must have spoken highly about Joseph.
The couple who followed suit
In the very next Chapter in Acts 5 we read about a couple who probably responded to this act of Joseph which is recorded in the end of Acts Chapter 4.
We read in Acts 5:1, “But there was a man named Ananias, who with his wife Sapphira sold some property that belonged to them.” (GNB)
This couple wanted to imitate what Joseph did, and must have discussed about this matter. They also wanted a good name among the believers, and approval from the Apostles.
There’s an important lesson that we need to learn from this incident. We should never do anything to please people, to receive their approval or to get a good name from men.
The reward of secret giving
Jesus said in Matthew 6:1-2, “Be careful! When you do something good, don’t do it in front of others so that they will see you. If you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “When you give to those who are poor, don’t announce that you are giving. Don’t be like the hypocrites. When they are in the synagogues and on the streets, they blow trumpets before they give so that people will see them. They want everyone to praise them. The truth is, that’s all the reward they will get.” (ERV)
So often when there are disasters, accidents or pandemics many people come forward to help those who are in need, which is commendable. However, often there are many who capture these events and publicize their giving in every possible way, especially using social media. The Lord Jesus is forthright that if we do such deeds just to be seen by men, and advertise these good deeds we will lose out on our rewards from our Father in heaven.
In Verse 2 of Matthew 6 Jesus explains how there were those who made a big show about their giving, and did their good deeds to be seen by men, and to receive praises from men. Jesus refers to such men as ‘hypocrites.’ These men were parading their good deeds in the synagogues and in the streets.
Nowadays people have these charity events that are so widely publicized, and we too must take heed because we will most certainly miss out on the true reward from God the Father.
Ananias and Sapphira who watched others giving generously also wanted to imitate others.
We should never do something just to replicate someone else but rather do all the good we can because we are truly led and burdened to do so.
Deceitful giving
We read in Acts 5:2, “But with his wife's agreement he kept part of the money for himself and turned the rest over to the apostles.” (GNB)
These two knowingly kept back part of what they sold for themselves. Though the land belonged to them, and the money was theirs, the bible refers to this act of keeping back a part of it as deceitful. This couple wanted to do their good deed because of what they saw Joseph did. However, when the money actually came into their hands they were not willing to part with all of it, and had a change of heart. They did want to give the money to the church, but somehow it seemed that greed had gotten hold of them when the money came into their hands. That is why they kept a part of it, and took the rest to the Apostles.
There was a change of mind, and they assumed that nobody would come to know about it. Their mistake was that they thought that the leaders of the church were ordinary men, and forgot the fact that though they were doing it before men, God was watching, and was aware of all that they schemed. The couple thought that they would give their gift, and that they would get the endorsement of the Apostles, and would receive the praises from men. They failed to realize that their secret conversations at home were all taken note of by God.
Nothing is hidden from God
The Lord reminds us that God is observing and hears every word we speak, all that we think and everything we do. God hears our cry of anguish, but He also hears all of our murmurings. If one will live with this thought that God is watching, there will be no way they will falter in their walk with the Lord. The minute we look to men and seek their approval, we will fail to remember that God is observing us. One of the major problems among believers today is that they have one life for the church, and another one in the family and for society. The reason for this dichotomy is that we seek men’s approval, rather than have a fear and reverence for God. I would say of such that they have lost their faith in God.
We read in Hebrews 11:6, “No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.” (GNB)
Most people will believe that there is a God, and will attest that He exists. However, the same people forget that God will rewards them for what they do. There are many who sin deliberately, and then justify themselves that God is also aware of what they have done and why they did so. These have for sure slipped away from their faith. The writer of Hebrews clearly says that without faith it is impossible to please God, because our faith alone prompts us to realize that God exists, and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. If we live with this thought, our words, thoughts and deeds will be consistent at church, at home, at work and wherever else we may be.
Let me explain this from our day to day experience. In many shops and malls you may have noticed that they have camera surveillance. Though people know that God is watching, there is more fear for the camera that is observing them. When there are cameras the people behave in a certain way, and when there are no cameras they tend to behave differently. This only goes to show that people are more concerned to look right before others, rather than to be right before God who observes everything.
Don’t give Satan a foothold
We read in Acts 5:3, Peter said to him, "Ananias, why did you let Satan take control of you and make you lie to the Holy Spirit by keeping part of the money you received for the property? (GNB)
In the beginning we read that they all the believers were of one heart and one mind, as their focus was to keep the temporary things of the world secondary to the eternal treasures of heaven. This couple too wanted to be part of this group of believers, and they presented their money hoping to be applauded by the Apostles. They forgot that these Apostles were ambassadors of God, and that the Holy Spirit of God dwelt inside of them. Peter therefore rebuked Ananias for lying to the Holy Spirit, and trying to deceive the Apostles.
Both lies and deceit are birthed by Satan, and they had allowed Satan to take control of their lives. When Ananias and Sapphira were more concerned about pleasing men rather than God, they gave room for the devil to have a foothold in their lives.
These days there is much talk about the grace of God, His love and guidance. However, may we never forget that God is a just God who will repay everyone according to their deeds. There are many warning for us to take heed from the bible. We have an example in Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus, and also in Ananias and Sapphira. We have begun this journey of faith, and we need God’s strength and grace to complete this race. Every day we must remind ourselves that God is watching, and He is aware of everything. If we live this way, Satan will have no place in our lives. Jesus could testify this way in John 14:30, “for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,” (ESV) meaning that Satan could have no dominion over Him.
Let us strive to receive a good testimony from God, and not try to please men. May we always desire to please God alone, and only then He will reign supreme in our lives. Further, may we keep in mind that we are not the owners of things that we possess on earth, but only stewards who have been entrusted with these for a limited period of time. Either we can use it for ourselves, our family and our children alone, or we can be a blessing to many. May the Lord help us to have that oneness of heart and mind that was so evident in the early church.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
