And all the believers…shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. (Acts 2:44-45)
Generally, there is something inside of us that leaps when someone shares something with us. Whether it’s a food that catches our eye and stomach, an extra gadget that someone is parting with, or a ticket to a sporting event, we love it when we are on the receiving end of the sharing. We like free stuff (let’s just admit it), and we love it when people share with us things that we are interested in. And we enjoy being able to share and having something to offer. Yes, the receiver is blessed; the one sharing is blessed even more.
We share life with others, and that brings a much deeper satisfaction than sharing stuff. Especially is this true when the sharing crosses many years of togetherness, and memories, and personal ups and downs. There’s a bonding generated by this long-time sharing of life experiences. That bonding is not easily broken or dissolved. It’s firm.
A friend of mine shared how he felt when his wife of 50 plus years died after a long cancer battle. He said he thought he was going to die. “We had always done everything together,” he told me. “So, I just figured I would die, too.” But then he realized that wasn’t necessarily true! Their sharing of life was a natural connection born of their years together. I reckon it was easy for him to think that they might just keep on sharing, even in death. But he hit a mental turning point, and he developed a different sense of how things would work out. He went on to remarry and live many more years. He started a new life of sharing with someone else.
I’m struck by the “sharing of everything” demonstrated by these early believers. From my brief anecdotes and simple reflections above, I consider how the experience of sharing is a natural and integral part of our lives. While the receiving end of sharing grabs our attention, and we love to tell others about those sharing events, these believers initiated sharing. The Scripture says, “They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.” It was an outgrowth of their shared experience of that most amazing Pentecost day. They had shared in super-natural events of wind, fire, and language; they had shared a common response when Peter the Preacher announced to them in no uncertain terms the meaning of what was occurring around them; they had shared in repentance and baptism. Now, they were sharing possessions, money, meals, and their whole lives.
The Holy Spirit invasion fueled a remarkable and undeniable generosity. And it was so prevalent, so widespread, so ingrained in these first Jesus-followers, that no one is depicted in this story as the “sharing leader” or the “sharing stand-out” or the “Super Sharer.” This generosity factor was shared by all. And from all appearances, they loved it. What a great description by which early Jesus followers were known.
“Father, thank you for the heritage of sharing modeled by your people; restore this to your believers today in an overflowing measure of abundance!”
Freddy Boswell 