The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1
“Share with your neighbor whatever you have, and do not say of anything, this is mine. If you both share an imperishable treasure, how much more must you share what is perishable.”
Barnabas of Cyprus (c. 540-604) in Letter as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 391.
Our granddaughter, Eve, is starting to talk. While her vocabulary is small, I am glad “mine” is not yet in her vocabulary. She will learn it soon enough.
From a young age we tend to claim things as our own. The culture teaches us this. While I know her parents will teach her good stewardship, she will learn the word “mine” at some point.
Barnabas, the “Son of Encouragement” from Cyprus, who sold a tract land and set it at the Apostles feet declared otherwise with this act.
“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. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 4:34-37
He said “God’s!” rather than “Mine!” to that piece of land. What do you have? What would it look like to declare “God’s!” rather than “Mine!” today?
Why do this? In short, everything that we might say belongs to us is “perishable” so it’s senseless to hold on to it. Think of perishable foods like tomatoes or apples. Would you keep it for 5 years?
Of course not. But eternal truths, imperishable things, like Bible verses or timeless promises of God. Would we keep those 5 years? Sure. We can hold onto them for eternity. See the difference.
Don’t let your tomatoes and apples rot this side of heaven. Store them up for eternity while you can. That’s what Barnabas reminds us.