Unity and Generosity

All who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
–Acts 4:34–35

In her book Up with Worship, Anne Ortlund described two kinds of churches. One kind is like a sack of marbles. What happens when you vigorously shake a sack of marbles? The marbles clatter and scratch one another, but they remain distinct. The other kind of church is like a bag of grapes. If you vigorously shake a bag of grapes, they ooze into one another. When you open the bag, you can’t separate one grape from another.

The early church was like that bag of grapes. When they were shaken by persecution, they didn’t create friction; instead, they unified. They oozed into one another’s lives. Acts 4:32 says, “The congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul.”

The church was unified, and that unity led to great generosity. Verses 32–35 say, “Not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.”

The Bible says believers have a responsibility to take care of one another’s physical needs. If a brother or sister in Christ is not able to work or has no family to help them, then we are to provide for their physical needs.

One of the early church members who helped fellow believers in this way was nicknamed Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement.” Verse 37 says Barnabas “owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” Barnabas was one of those people you just loved to be around. He always had an encouraging word. Do you have somebody like that in your life? Do you try to be like Barnabas, giving generously and offering encouragement to those who need it? Barnabas is a great example of the unity and generosity that characterized the early church–and that ought to characterize our churches today.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Sin in the Church,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2021.

Anne Ortlund, Up with Worship: How to Quit Playing Church (Broadman & Holman, 1982).

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.