The Fellowship of Generosity

Movements change the world as a group of people with a shared purpose cause 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 Christian Church. Jesus launched the movement in just three short years, yet today roughly 1/3 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 apostle’s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. One aspect that is overlooked is it was the most generous group of people in its day. 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. Have you ever heard of a believer selling land or a house to give to those in need? 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 most certainly needy people in the Roman Empire, but the Bible says there were no needy people in and around the early church because the believers felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything.

Remember the popular poster years ago, back when people put posters on their walls, that had the huge red apple and was titled “All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten”? The very first thing listed was – Share everything. While sharing was most certainly 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 of a community of one heart and mind. There was a harmonious unity that had a “we” before a “me” mentality. This was demonstrated in their sharing of resources to anyone in 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 anyway? 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.

Photo Credit: Omar Lopez