“When the Christians gathered to form a new community following the day of Pentecost, Luke tells us that “they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts” (Acts 2:46). As the need arose, they shared even their possessions with each other…
The spirit of generosity was evident first of all in their “one heart and soul.” While some did own property, they did not “claim” private ownership…The common life that they shared conditioned their right to keep what was their own while others went hungry. The spirit of generosity is a shared life…”
Ray S. Anderson in Living the Spiritually Balanced Life: Acquiring the Virtues You Admire in Others (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2001) 65.
Why don’t Christ followers “claim” private ownership? God owns everything (cf. Psalm 24:1)! He entrusts us, as stewards, with private property, but never do we own anything. We are partakers of Christ’s life, which far exceeds the value of any other earthly possession. This truth “conditions” us. It reshapes our thinking and our living regarding people and possessions.
On the eve of the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us humble ourselves in solitude and ask the Father to “condition” our hearts to produce the fruit of generosity (cf. Galatians 5:22-23). This is not about going out and buying more presents. I am inviting you to join me in asking the Father to make us His gifts to the world.