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. 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 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 2:32-35
“As the early Christians faced the world, they saw immense spiritual and physical poverty all around them. Rather than acting as individual givers, they came together and sought collective impact with their giving.
Could one giver have administered the daily distribution of food to widows? No. But, acting in unison, many believers accomplished this task together. The loving community they formed – feeding the hungry, welcoming children, and worshipping in joyful unity – allowed the early Jesus communities to spread.
In this milieu of collaborative giving and spiritual devotion, Barnabas took a bold leap of faith into generosity. This initial step in his discipleship journey would propel him forward, as he became a partner to Paul and one of the most critical leaders in the early days of the missionary expansion of the Church.
Giving generously, in community with other believers can facilitate leveraged impact for God’s kingdom. And it might just propel you into a new calling you never anticipated, like it did Barnabas.”
John Cortines in “4 relatable lessons on giving from the early church” article by NCF on 2 March 2022.
This is a good little article about giving in Acts. It’s fitting for us during Lent because we are journeying together to grow in this grace. When we join forces in giving we are certainly better together.
Collaborative giving moves us toward common kingdom objectives. When we work together, needs are eliminated, problems are solved, and God gets the glory before a watching world.
That’s the ultimate objective of our efforts in Malawi. Today it was estimated that the contextualized generosity curriculum and Palmful of Maize will touch upwards of 500,000 children in 1,000+ churches this year.
That’s collaborative giving among the poor so that there is no needy person among them and so that mission is fueled by local giving. So beautiful! So encouraging! To God be the glory.