More than Words

by Julia McGuinness

Scripture:
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." Acts 4:32-35 (NIV)

Devotional:
It wasn't just what the early Christians said that made an impact on those around them, it was how they lived.

Luke recounts how these believers shared a material as well as a spiritual life. Whilst they had separate home and had personal possessions, these were not held on to tightly as private property. Christians were willing to share what they had. When fellow believers faced hard times - through the famine and political unrest affecting employment in first-century Jerusalem, or discrimination as followers of the Way - those with financial assets sold them, and released the money to meet the need. No wonder the apostles' testimony packed a punch, backed up by the Christian community living out kingdom values with such integrity.

In our consumer society the emphasis is on getting and guarding. Communities are fragile and families fragmented. Many find it hard to know who to turn to when times are tough. As Christians we may worry about words when it comes to giving our testimony, but perhaps we are at our most eloquent when we express our practical concern for one another. Such love extends to more than simply sharing a pew: our faith is not just about who we are, but who we are together. As Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."