Friday

OUR VALUES - COMMUNITY - Sharing

Acts 2:42-end, Acts 4:32-end

Both these passages talk about the amazing miracles done by the apostles and they both talk about way in which the community shared their possessions and held everything in common.

In a consumer culture like ours, where we are encouraged to gather and store up goods for ourselves, this sounds like an alien concept. I remember as I child dreading my mum saying those terribles words 'share those sweets with your brother'! I wanted for myself.

Having grown up in this culture we need to recognise the radical transformation that the Holy Spirit needs to bring about in our hearts to get us to the point these first disciples were at. Even though the gap between where we are and where we could be is huge we shouldn't allow it to put us off from starting to take the steps necessary to begin sharing what we own.

How will you begin - maybe your first steps might be by giving away things you no longer need to those who do rather than trying to sell them on eBay. Then maybe you could give away something you think you might need sometime to someone who you know really does need it now. How about looking to share something that you have and need with someone who can't afford that item. Try taking small steps and see how far acorss that gap they take you.

Here's the thing you need to remember, nothing you have is yours anyway, it was given to you by a gracious God. Holding on to what God has given to you to look after is almost like theft. So hold lightly onto your possessions and look to use them in ways that honour the one who entrusted them to you.

Back