Bottom Line

A radical change of heart leads to radical generosity.

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. 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 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 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Acts 4:32-37

Giving​ ​is​ ​tied​ ​to​ ​what​ ​we​ ​proclaim,​ ​what​ ​we​ ​believe​ ​and​ ​value​ ​ as most​ ​important.​

That’s Gospel-generated unity so​ ​powerful,​ ​so​ ​noticeable​, ​that​ ​it​ ​points​ others ​to​ ​Jesus.

We​ ​don’t​ ​create​ ​unity.​ ​God​ ​establishes​ ​it.

This unity was wonderful evidence of the work of God’s Spirit among them. They were living for something beyond self.

We don’t become Christian​ ​clones.​

​“Has​ ​it​ ​ever​ ​occurred​ ​to​ ​you​ ​that​ ​one​ ​hundred​ ​pianos​ ​all​ ​tuned​ ​to​ ​the​ ​same​ ​fork​ ​are automatically​ ​tuned​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other?​ ​They​ ​are​ ​of​ ​one​ ​accord​ ​by​ ​being​ ​tuned,​ ​not​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other,​ ​but to​ ​another​ ​standard​ ​to​ ​which​ ​each​ ​one​ ​must​ ​individually​ ​bow.​ ​So​ ​one​ ​hundred​ ​worshippers together,​ ​each​ ​one​ ​looking​ ​away​ ​to​ ​Christ,​ ​are​ ​in​ ​heart​ ​nearer​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other​ ​than​ ​they​ ​could possibly​ ​be​ ​were​ ​they​ ​to​ ​become​ ​“unity”​ ​conscious​ ​and​ ​turn​ ​their​ ​eyes​ ​away​ ​from​ ​God​ ​to​ ​strive for​ ​closer​ ​fellowship.”
A.W.​ ​Tozer​

A​ ​generous​ ​person​ ​is​ ​a​ ​relationally​ ​involved​ ​person.

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
Acts 4:1-4

God’s redemption, through Jesus, unifies us; ​shifts​ ​our priorities,​ ​and ​ignites​ us to ​care​ ​for​ ​one​ ​another.

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Acts 4:36-37

When​ ​God’s​ ​grace​ ​is​ ​at​ ​work,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​unity​ ​and​ ​people​ ​get​ ​generous.

A radical change of heart leads to radical generosity.

Action Steps

• Reflect on how much you have been given in Christ.
• Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you “full to overflowing” so that you would desire to play the part He has called you to.
• How generous are you with your time, talents and/or treasure to help others …thereby pointing them to Jesus?
• Who might you “be a Barnabas” to this week? Who can you encourage?