Everything for Family

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (Acts 2:44-45 NIV)

The early church picture of giving is really overwhelming, especially to those of us living in today's day and age. We think in terms of owning everything we have. They considered it God's. This is why the picture looks a lot more like socialism than capitalism. What they were doing, though, was neither. It was a different approach to finances. They still controlled the money God entrusted into their care, like capitalism. They spent the money, however, out of love for their neighbor as much as themselves. This is the part that looks like socialism, because no one is in need.

The real driving force, however, is God. They are committed to God. They love God above all else. Everything they have belongs to God, so they lay it all before God and ask God for direction with 100% of what they have.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. (Acts 4:32-35 NIV)

People were willing to do whatever it took to spread the good news that Jesus was the Christ, that through Him we receive salvation, and that in His Spirit we overcome the real enemy in this life as well. So much money came in that they ended up with food programs to support those in need throughout the church community. The church was a greenhouse, a safe place if you will, for people to grow closer to God. That included making sure the church had food to eat. This was their extended family.

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:4-8 NIV)

Before someone was supported by the church, however, they were expected to be supported by their physical family. In other words, God's provision for you and me is supposed to be used to make sure our family at home has food, shelter, and clothing. God expects us to care for our own family. Even unbelievers, Paul says to Timothy, understand that. Caring for our family is part of loving our neighbor as ourselves. It starts right at home.

So how about you? Do you ask God for direction with 100% of the finances entrusted into your care? Does God direct you to use some of it to care for your immediate family? Does God direct you to use some of it to care for the extended family?