Life of sharing
[Acts 4:32-37]
There is a commonly heard saying that there are three types of people: those who are absolutely necessary, those who are of little consequence, and those who are better off absent. How can we limit people to these three categories? Nevertheless, it is necessary to reflect on this at least once. Which category do we currently belong to? In order to bring hope to the world, to give love to the world, to share with the world, we must become the person who is needed. How noble and beautiful would our lives be if the world could brighten even a little and undergo a new transformation because of us? Shout loudly to the world, "I am a person who is absolutely necessary" (Internet). While meditating on Jesus' act of sharing, poet Hae-in Lee prayed as follows: ‘Lord, if only our lives were broken so thoroughly by a life of sharing, but how is it that our days are so breathlessly busy with possessions? Please let us reflect sincerely before You. Truly, unless it is within You, we, who do not know the true meaning of sharing, will not know. Please grant us a generous and pure heart that is as abundant as You have shown us, without any regrets’ (Internet). "Sharing lies not in the abundance of possessions, but in the generosity of existence. Only those who enjoy a sense of inner abundance and inner fullness can practice sharing. Sharing is not a matter of material excess, but a matter of character. Sharing is possible when we love. There is always something to give to the object of our love. Like the hearts of lovers who give and give but are never tired, the heart that loves is the heart that practices sharing. Sharing is a principle of life. Although it begins with sacrifice, it bears fruit in abundance. Joy multiplies when shared, and sorrow becomes more bearable when shared. Just as clear water rises as you pour out deep spring water, our lives become more abundant through sharing" (Internet).
In today's passage, Acts 4:32-37, we can see the beautiful life of sharing in the early Jerusalem church. The believers in the early church, filled with the Holy Spirit in unity through their fervent prayers (v. 32), shared with one another. Therefore, I want to take the title today as "Life of sharing" and wish to practice three lessons about a life of sharing from today's passage.
First, in a life of sharing, there is unity of heart and mind.
Look at Acts 4:32 - "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." The companions of Peter and John in prayer (v. 23), through their united supplication to God (v. 24), were filled with the Holy Spirit, resulting in bold proclamation of God's word by all the believers (v. 31), and they lived a life of sharing possessions in unity of heart and mind (v. 32). This doesn't imply relinquishing ownership of personal property, but rather maintaining ownership while making their possessions available for use by the church as needed (Yoo). This practice of sharing possessions in the early Jerusalem church reminds us of the passage we previously meditated on in Acts 2:42-47. A very similar situation continues to be evident in the early church. What is it telling us? It tells us that the communal sharing of possessions in the Jerusalem church was not a one-time occurrence, but a continuous practice. Acts 2 describes the communal life of sharing possessions among the three thousand believers who received Jesus and heard the preaching of the apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost. In contrast, Acts 4:32 mentions about eight thousand male believers who believed in Jesus and heard the apostles' proclamation. Therefore, here in verse 32, the phrase "all the believers" is used in the past tense (Yoo).
This can only be an astonishing work of the Holy Spirit. How is it possible for approximately five thousand men to be of one heart and mind? This is a manifestation of the work of the Holy Spirit in the early Jerusalem church. In Acts 2, it was three thousand, and in Acts 4, it is about five thousand men, totaling over eight thousand believers, who shared possessions in unity of heart and mind. How is such a thing possible? I found the answer in Ephesians 4, particularly in verse 4, where the apostle Paul says: "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called." The reason the church became one is because they all had only one wish, to be eternally saved, and they all experienced the consolation of the Holy Spirit together (Park). God has called us (Eph. 4:1). We have been called with one hope (v. 4). What is this "one hope"? In hymn “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,” we find the lyrics: “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; ….” Our one hope is only in Jesus. Only in Him can we have one heart and one mind. So, what is our responsibility as people to have one heart and one mind? I find the answer in Ephesians 4:3, where the apostle Paul says: "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." We must diligently guard what the Holy Spirit has made one in us in Jesus Christ. In short, we all must be 'peacemakers' (Mt. 5:9). Consider James 3:18: "Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." Also, see Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." In the life of sharing of those who are peacemakers, there is unity of heart and mind. This unity of heart and mind is simply the heart and mind of the Lord, and the desire to fulfill the Lord's will. There is no room for any other heart and mind. Do we indeed have the heart and mind of the Lord in our life of sharing? We must never entertain a divided heart or selfish ambitions within the community of the church.
Second, in a life of sharing, there were no needy individuals.
Look at Acts 4:34 - "There were no needy persons among them …." Why were there no needy individuals within the community of the Jerusalem church? The reason is that they shared with one another according to the needs (v. 35). Approximately five thousand men became of one heart and one mind, sharing everything they had and not claiming their possessions as their own, but living a life of shared possessions (vv. 34-35). Now, how did they go about this sharing of possessions? It's stated in Acts 4:34-35. It means that those who had fields or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales, and put it at the apostles' feet to be distributed to anyone who had need (vv. 34-35). This doesn't imply that the congregation disposed of all their possessions and evenly distributed them, but rather, it shows that there were believers who voluntarily sold their possessions to address the urgent needs of impoverished saints (Yoo).
How should believers within the church live a life of sharing? I'd like to offer a couple of suggestions based on the Scriptures:
- We need to be aware of not only our own needs but also the needs of fellow believers.
There's an instinct in us that tends to focus solely on our own needs when we find ourselves in a situation of scarcity (commonly referred to as being "self-absorbed"). However, those living a life of sharing go beyond this instinct and recognize the needs of both themselves and their brothers and sisters in Christ.
- We should share according to the needs of the saints.
Wisdom is needed in the act of sharing. First, we should share from what we have. This doesn't mean giving to the point of impoverishing ourselves. In fact, the Bible speaks negatively about going into debt. Additionally, it's good to collectively contribute to help a fellow believer in need. In other words, it's better to gather together with others who can also help rather than trying to assist someone alone. Moreover, it's preferable to channel our sharing through the church. When we see that those who had material possessions brought the money to be distributed at the apostles' feet (v. 35) during the sharing of possessions among about five thousand men, it suggests that while individual help can be given, it's better to join together and pool resources through the church to aid our fellow brothers and sisters in need.
So, how were the early church saints able to share to the extent that there were no needy individuals? We find the answer in Acts 4:33 - "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." It was made possible through "great power" and "great grace." Because the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of Jesus with great power, resulting in everyone hearing and experiencing great grace, they were able to share with one another, leaving no needy saints. If today, through humble servants, God's great power is displayed, and if the message of God's power is being proclaimed, saints who receive great grace will be even more determined to live a life of sharing more actively, and they will bear the fruit of love through practical deeds.
Third and last, in a life of sharing, there is comfort.
Look at Acts 4:36 - "Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means 'son of encouragement')." As the apostles proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus with great power and the crowd of believers was of one heart and mind (v. 32), many people donated their possessions. In verse 36, among the many who disposed of their possessions and dedicated the proceeds to the church, the author Luke highlights a specific example, a person named Joseph. In verse 37, the Bible says, "He owned a field; he sold it and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet." This Joseph is better known to us as Barnabas, which means "son of encouragement." In other words, Barnabas was a person of comfort and consolation.
In a community of sharing, there are many comforters like Barnabas. The church, where saints gather desiring not to receive comfort, but rather to comfort others, truly embodies a life of genuine sharing. In a community with a life of sharing, there are not only peacemakers but also no needy individuals, and instead, there are comforters. What is comfort? To comfort someone is the most important act of using one's heart and caring. Life is sometimes filled with pain, sadness, and loneliness, and there are times when people facing difficulties struggle without seeing any hope. We can and should comfort those who are on the verge of despair, facing unresolved difficulties. Of course, providing comfort does not mean taking away the pain. Instead, it means saying, 'You are not alone. I am here with you. We can endure the pain together. Do not be afraid. I am here,' while being together. That is giving and receiving comfort. We all need people who can give and receive comfort. Comforting is a life-saving act. Strive to comfort rather than seek comfort. Your moments will become even richer, and the abundant satisfaction of life will fill your soul like a subtle fragrance (Internet).
Learning that "sharing is caring,"
James Kim
(Praying to comfort those in need with the heart of the Lord)