“We Not Me” Fellowship

Movements are what change the world, as a group of people with a shared purpose causes sizeable change together. Some of the greatest stories of movements are in the beginning, when people passionately follow a vision bigger than themselves. This is true of the greatest movement ever, the Church. Jesus launched The Way in just three short years with a ragtag group of misfits. It grew exponentially after his resurrection and ascension, and now today, roughly one-third of the world’s population is part of it! Even though the church has never been perfect, the early church is a powerful example of how Jesus intended it to be.

There are many exceptional characteristics of the early church, such as their devotion to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. One aspect that is most overlooked, sadly, is that it was the most generous group of people around. Just take a look at how these early believers were described in the book of Acts:

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
 —Acts 4:32-35

This is incredible. Do you know anyone who has sold land or houses solely to give to people in need in their community? As mind-blowing as it is, evidently, this was normal in the early church. The result of such radical generosity is that “there were no needy people among them.” There were certainly needy people in the Roman Empire, but the Bible says there were no needy people in and around the early church, God’s family, because the believers felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything.

Remember the popular poster years ago, way back when people put posters on their walls, the one with the huge red apple?

All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten

The very first thing listed was —Share everything. While sharing was definitely a big lesson in kindergarten, the early church taught the world to “share everything” before kindergarten even existed. This is how they were known.

How was this “fellowship of generosity” possible? They were a community of one heart and mind, marked by a harmonious unity. It was a “We Not Me” fellowship. This was demonstrated in their sharing of resources with anyone facing hard times. The believers didn’t think that any of their money or possessions belonged to them alone. It was a community that shared what they created, produced and earned.

The early church was bonded to God and to each other, and it reshaped their perspective and use of everything in their lives. Whether you’ve been a part of the church for a short time or a lifetime, does your perspective of your resources need to be reshaped in any way? A good reminder for all of us is that “what we own is not our own.” Everything we have comes from God, and the people who started this movement shared their resources generously. Each of us is an important part of this fellowship of generosity in modern day and has the opportunity to keep it going strong.