Being the Church #14

In our study of "Being the Church", we have been in Acts 2 before, and even read these verses, but today we want to focus in on them more. Verse:

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Something very important was going on here that we need to grasp, but we also need to realize what it was not. It was not every believer selling everything they had, putting the money they had together and living in some sort of commune while they waited for Christ's return.  These people lived life in community but did not seclude themselves from the world around them.  They did not just sell all they had and give it to anyone and everyone. They shared with fellow believers in dire need.  Because of the people Jesus had been willing to reach out to, many of them were poor and needy. Because many were rejected by family and friends when they accepted Christ, they needed help just for daily needs. Yes, this also resulted in the believers being willing to help others in need, but it started in the church. The church became known and influential not because of their free handouts, but because of the love the world around them witnessed.  These people had different hearts, generous hearts, hearts changed by the power of Christ. That's what our world needs to see again today.