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The community spirit – Acts 2
The community spirit – Acts 2
Putting the spiritual above the material results in ability to share what we have AND thus to pay more attention to the spiritual in our lives. When it works the other way, like it did with Ananias (ch. 5), it brings destruction of the spiritual. Paul warned: "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs" (1Tim. 6:9-10). We must develop a correct attitude toward material possessions.
Some upon reading this chapter have concluded that this was an experiment in communism (in its most basic sense). It is thus thought that to become a disciple one must renounce ownership of all possessions and place it under control of the community. There are a couple of reasons that such is not what is taught in this passage.
First, they continued to have ownership for, as the days passed, they would 'sell' such possessions. Selling implies control / ownership. Second, they didn't just turn over all possessions when converted, but rather they were willing to share 'as any had need'. The community spirit was not in a form of communism but in the spirit of community. They were more concerned with the welfare of their brethren than ownership of material things. This is true community.
YET, underlying this is the principle of 'ownership'. They 'counted it not as their own' – yet Peter said to Ananias that such was 'thine own' (Acts 5:4). This is not a contradiction but a thoughtful insight. What we 'have' is ours as a STEWARDSHIP. Such stewardship does imply 'control', but it is control with responsibility and accountability. All things ultimately belong unto God. We enjoy such stewardship ONLY for a short while for when we die, all such control is gone and then we must give an account.
Paul later addressed this very thing when he instructed the Ephesians: "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need" (Eph. 4:28). Concerning those with riches, Paul instructed Timothy: "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life" (1 Tim. 6:17-18).
The rich fool in Luke 12:20-21 didn't learn this. Ananias and Sapphira didn't learn this. Simon the sorcerer didn't learn this. The brethren in Macedonia DID. Paul would write of them: "We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us" (2 Cor. 8:1-3). What would the bible record of US?
Hugh DeLong
