Yours or Mine?

Deuteronomy 23.19-25       Acts 4.32-5.11
"Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common." (Acts 4.32)

"Life in community."

 

It is hard in our modern materialistic culture to keep a heavenly perspective. We keep reverting into that thinking which says, "this life is all there is." To seek first God's kingdom and righteousness seems irrelevant  when this life dominates our thoughts.

 

In todays passage in Acts we see that there was more a mindset focused on the kingdom of God.

 

For the early church Christ's return as King loomed large.

 

Also the community of  the King's people seemed to be in the forefront, and great sharing and generosity filled the whole family of the faith.

 

The heavenly kingdom  seemed to bear down on the believers hearts as having the greatest treasure and value even in  their earthly living.

 

There was no such thing ultimately as absolutely individual possessions . Rather than yours or mine, it was all  for the Lord and His Kingdom people."

 

Relationships within the community of the King seemed to take front stage in the perspective of the early church.

 

As a result "Great grace was on them all." There "was not a needy person among them." Above all the testimony to the resurrection was given great power. All in all, this time was a wonderful season of refreshment from the Lord!

 

How challenging then is this distributive view in our our western culture.

 

I  pause afresh and ask myself how my view of the King effects how I live now before those around me.  I know I should take care of my own self, but surely I am also my brother's keeper.