Day Twenty

If you have 5 minutes!

Read Acts 4:32-37 and selected extracts from Deut. 15

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

…there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5 if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today…7 If anyone is poor among your people in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need…10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward those of your people who are poor and needy in your land.

I experienced Acts-4-style generosity just last week when my car needed repairing and someone immediately offered me theirs to use until I could get it fixed.

• In what ways have you experienced the generosity of others during this last week? Thank God for those things.

If you have a bit longer :-)

• Are there some possessions that you have that you are more willing to share than others? Why is this? Should we be willing to literally share everything or is it okay to have some things that we don’t allow others to use/borrow?
• Is there anything of Acts-4-style generosity that you could engage in this week?