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. - Acts 4:32

Devotion:

Read Acts 4:32-37

One of my sisters recently got married, so I was lucky enough to add a new brother to my family earlier this year. The day after they got engaged, my brother-in-law moved to Tennessee for a new job working in college athletics. As a former college athlete starting out his new adult life, he needed some help furnishing his first house. My wife and I had some extra furniture and offered to give him some of it, which he graciously accepted. We cleaned up the couch, loveseat, and reclining chair we planned on gifting to him. He arrived at our house with my sister and a UHAUL trailer, ready to pack and head east. As we were helping him pack the trailer with our old furniture, we asked where his bed was going to fit, given that our items were taking up a large portion of the small trailer. He responded with, “Oh, I just have a full-size mattress and I was going to sleep on the floor.” 

I’m not quite sure what came over me at that moment, but my first response was not, “Oh, you’re a 25-year old guy. You’ll be fine! I’ve been there and done the same thing,” nor was it, “Tough luck. You’ll figure it out.” No, what came out of my mouth was, “Abe! You can have our bed. Take all of it—the frame, mattress, sheets. You can have everything except for our pillows. Those are off-limits.” I looked at my wife, expecting pushback with a look that said, “Are you kidding me?! You can’t give away our BED!” Instead, she chimed in with, “You can even have our extra set of sheets!” His face lit up (and so did my sister’s), so we went back inside from the driveway to disassemble our bed and repack the UHAUL trailer. 

I wrote this devotional not to give myself credit for giving away our bed—the consequence of that action was sleeping on the couch for over a week while trying to find a new bed. Earlier this spring, I had two very different conversations in the same week where Acts 4:32-37 was referenced. I struggle to believe in coincidences like that, so I immediately began reading and researching the chapter. Not one week later, I was asked to write a devotion on giving and serving.

Acts 4:32-35 says, “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common … great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” 

The early church endured persecution unlike anything we see today in America, but is unfortunately commonplace all over the world. Without this mindset of radical generosity, it’s likely that the early church would not have survived. When Jesus ascended into heaven he left the Holy Spirit with us, so we could all be filled with the Spirit of God. The “great grace” referenced in verse 33 gave early church members a mindset of giving and serving that took care of their community. I’m not saying you should leave your car keys on the hood of your car outside your house for anyone to use. I am saying when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and great grace, the outpouring of generosity should leave no needs in our communities. Be filled with grace and peace as you go forward. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and give generously!

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for our many blessings. I pray our communities are defined by giving and serving. Satisfy the needs of our communities and give us the boldness to step out in faith, even when it is uncomfortable. Give us the faith and generosity of the early church, and help us love our communities well. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Jake Meyer
Director of Digital Discipleship and Video Operations

Jake Meyer is the Director of Digital Discipleship and Video Operations for Crossings Community Church. He is passionate about helping people grow in their faith by telling stories about how Jesus changes lives.

Resources

• Listen to “Song of Surrender” by Crossings Venue Worship
• Listen to “Prepared for Action” from Senior Pastor Marty Grubbs
• Listen to “Freed to be Generous” from Pastor Andy Rauschkolb

Read More Devotions

Explore other devotions like this one any time at crossings.church/devotions.