Would you sell your only real estate for US$150, 000 and place the total sale price at the apostles’ feet, or in your case, at the feet of your pastor?
Read on and I will explain why these brethren did a similar thing and what it means for Christians today!
Our main Bible reference is Acts 4:34-37.
Is This About Tithing?
“Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold.”
Acts 4:34
Something unnatural and unusual was occurring amongst the Christians in the First Century Church!
Now, don’t confuse this with tithing! This wasn’t their way of tithing!
However, as a result of this unprecedented move by these Christians, there was no one amongst them that lacked anything.
This unusual act on their path provides for everyone in the congregation.
There is a lesson in this for the contemporary assemblies.
Was It an Offering?
So, we realize that laying all the proceeds from the sales of these members’ real estate holdings were not tithing.
But, was it an offering?
In the strict sense of the Bible, these acts of the Believers didn’t even qualify as “offerings”.
An offering has a unique feature. It is either taken from an increase or requested.
In these instances, these features are absent!
This is how the Bible describes the quality of an offering.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.”
Exodus 25:2
See how the Lord requested it through Moses?
What Does The Act of Laying their Money at the Apostles’ Feet Mean?
On the other hand, the Apostles in the First Century Church did not request this from the pews.
Also, observe that this wouldn’t qualify as an increase. As in the case of a harvest or an increase in animals like sheep.
The latter scenario describes Cain’s and the former explains Abel’s offering respectively!
“And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.”
Genesis 4:3
So, he had an increase in production and he took an offering from that and presented it to the Lord.
On the other hand, his brother took his offering from the growth of his flock.
“…Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.”
Genesis 4:4
Nevertheless, what describes the Believers laying all their money at the apostles’ feet?
Was this happening as a result of mind control or was it a result of indoctrination? Read on to find out!
Why Did The Pews Lay Their Money at The Apostles’ Feet?
The pews “… laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” (Acts 4:35).
Again, this was not a request from the Apostles.
Seeing that this wasn’t tithing or offering then, what was it?
First, it was a move of the Holy Ghost, and second, it was a by-product of people being of one heart and of one soul.
They, all were on one accord.
This then is the Holy Ghost at work in the Church.
To recall what this means let’s read….
“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”
Acts 4:32
This behavior is divinely inspired!
How else would you have all the people renouncing ownership of all their possessions?
Then, agreeing that they belonged instead to all the pews?
This was a conviction of the Holy Ghost on the hearts of all “them that believed” (Acts 4:32).
And I don’t expect the unsaved to comprehend this!
What Motivates Joses to Lay the Total Proceeds of His Land at the Apostles’ Feet?
“And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus.”
Acts 4:36
See how nobody requested this of him and after he sold his real estate, he decided what he wanted to do with it!
“Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
Acts 4:37
This spirit of being on one accord is from heaven. This is the power of God, that is the Holy Ghost at work.
He is motivating these Believers to act and operate as a unit.
However, wherever you find this manner of operation the Devil is not far away!
But this also means that more awesome manifestations of the power of God await us!
Conclusion
The members of the First Century Church displayed a unique behavior.
With no prompting or request from the leadership of the Church, all the pews sold all their possessions and laid the total sale price at the Apostles’ feet.
Since this was not done by one person but by all, it is phenomenal! They acted as a unit without any intervention from the Apostles.
This is a consummate demonstration that God is one. He operated through all the Believers and they all acted on one accord.
Additionally, their givings are neither tithings nor offerings but free-will gifts from their hearts.
Hearts touched by the Holy Ghost!
How Could We Apply Acts 4:33-37 To the Contemporary Church?
This behavior was not inspired by man but by God. This is not an act we could replicate on our own. The Lord God must divinely inspire such actions.
History has not recorded another act like this one since.
But if it pleases the Lord now, He could repeat this act.
Again, he could motivate all the members of an assembly to lay the total cost of all their possessions at the apostles’ feet, or pastors’ feet!
But, I don’t think the Lord needs to repeat this! There is no need!
In closing, has the Holy Ghost ever touched your heart to do anything comparable to this?
Let me know in your comments below this Bible study!
