So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:41-47 NASB)
In Acts 2, much attention in the chapter and from believers is focused on the immediate effects of their speech and the ensuing sermon of Peter. It seems the end of the chapter gets disconnected from the noisy event of the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit. I'd like to correct that problem. I start by asking a very strange question: Would you rather have the Son of God to follow, or the Holy Spirit to lead you? See, I told you it was odd.
Hopefully, after some mental wrangling, the initial panic of heresy calms down and the decision is pondered as a "win-win" set of options. I ask because of something at the end of Acts 2 that is amazing to me, especially as an American. When I consider that 3,000 people from all over the world were added to 120 believers in Jerusalem, I have to wonder if the logistics of that was overwhelming to the initial 120. We don't typically think about it, but 3,000 people needed jobs, places to live, food, all in Jerusalem. Did Jerusalem's economy support such a surge in population? The economy of Jerusalem at that time probably did not support such a surge easily. As people left the festival to return home, the jobs actually decreased, not increased (although housing was more available).
So God has brought 3,000 souls to the church in one morning, most of them are from elsewhere and haven't lived in Jerusalem. What do you do now? The believers settled into an interesting pattern. They continued in focusing on four things: the apostles' teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread (communion?), and prayer. In order to meet the overwhelming needs, the people shared everything (they had all things in common). In fact, some sold property and used the proceeds to assist in meeting these new needs.
Where did they learn that? What in their Scriptures told them that was the correct response to such a need? Would you believe the laws on tithing? In Deuteronomy 14:28-29, a use for the tithe is given that is overlooked almost universally by Jesus' followers. I suspect that part of the teaching of the apostles included a solution based on these principles. There are other passages that could have been used, but this one specifically addresses those among the people who did not have any land among them. At the time those in these categories were ineligible to own land among them (at least the "alien"). So while 2/3 of the tithe went to the temple (to be used for a party by the way), the other 1/3 was used to help the needy around them.
Two reasons I don't see the response of the believers to this need as a direct effect of the noisy wind-and-fire-tongue event is that they already had "received" the Holy Spirit. They selected their Twelfth Man before this, so the Holy Spirit was already working in them to solve issues. It was nice to have that twelfth guy once the 3,000 showed up, that was good timing (or God-timing). And, second, it wasn't just the 120 (i.e. the ones in the room when it happened) that were sharing. It turns out Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, had property in the area (or maybe elsewhere) who sold it and gave the proceeds to the apostles. They eventually nick-named him Barnabas. I believe he was an example of the scope of the sharing.
So what I see is a Spirit-led response to need through generosity. It's not that they were all "gifted" with generosity, the all responded in that way. All needs were shared, and so were all the possessions necessary to meet the needs. In the United States, we are offended when we're told, "you didn't build that." We take our possessions very seriously. The fruit of our labor is ours, we worked hard for it, we did too build it! Yet Scripture asks us, what do we have that did not come from our Master? Sure that's not what was meant when we were told we didn't build what we have, but I have to agree that I didn't build what I have apart from my Master's provision. So is it possible that He has provided these possessions to me so that I might have more to give to meet the needs around me?
No one has the right to ask me to give my possessions to meet needs, except my Master. The needs around me can be met by other sources, but what about His call on me? I can't solve the problems, meet all the needs, and make everyone happy. But I don't think the call is to either of those things, those are the jobs of my Master. What He wants of my is the resources He has entrusted to me so He can use them to meet those needs, solve those problems, and bring happiness to the ones in need. I have a few loaves and some fish (I'm always happy to give up fish). I can't solve anything. This isn't about solving the problems, it's about the things entrusted to me by my Master being available to Him for His purposes. Well, I think some budget adjustments may need to be made in my household. What fun...oh wait, I'm to be a cheerful giver. What fun! To see what God will do is one of the most fun things there is. I just have to hold on to that thought.
Showing posts with label generosity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label generosity. Show all posts
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
AOL, Generosity, and Resources
Now the angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from and where are you going?" And she said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai." Then the angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority." Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, "I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count." The angel of the LORD said to her further, "Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction. "He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone's hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers." Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God who sees"; for she said, "Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?" Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. (Genesis 16:1-14 NASB)
There has been lots of debate over whether the "angel of the LORD" was actually "the LORD" as opposed to an intermediary. The account in Genesis 16 is the first appearance of this Bible character. And in this account is also the first reference where the Messenger is closely tied with the One sending the message. They are connected so closely, in fact, that to see the Messenger is to see the One sending the message.
Hagar had fled because she had treated Sarai, her mistress, with contempt and Sarai drove her away. She had treated Sarai with contempt because she had become pregnant by Abram at Sarai's insistence. Since she had become pregnant when Sarai couldn't she had contempt for Sarai; she forgot her place.
The Angel of the LORD (AOL, a better meaning than "America Online") finds Hagar on the way south back to Egypt (where Hagar is from). There He opens the conversation with the question, "Where are you coming from and going to?" One of the elements to this story that isn't questioned much is what did Hagar experience in this encounter that she could hold this conversation? She replies, but did she see someone for her talk to? It seems she did. So the AOL is a visible character, and this is not a dream of Hagar's.
He helps her figure out what to do, how to behave, and what will happen. It isn't all good news. Her son will be a wild donkey-man; not all that encouraging. And nestled away in this description is the news that Ismael will not be the "promised one". Again, that couldn't be all that encouraging either. Yet, there is the promise that her son would be a great nation with lots of descendants as well. That was encouraging. Bad news and good news; or good news, but not all that good.
So, after getting her "marching orders", she worships (called on the name of the LORD), and gives God a new name, El-Roi (yep, like the Jetsons, "...his boy Elroy..."). But for her it meant, "The God Who Sees", or "...sees me." Her explanation for this is her wonder that she "remained alive after seeing Him." So, Hagar understood that seeing AOL was the same as seeing the LORD.
So, what's the point for me? Hagar saw a physical manifestation of God. From my perspective as a follower of Jesus, I call such sights Jesus, the physical manifestation of God as a man. This is not a "required" understanding by any means, but for many (or some), these are categorized as "pre-incarnate appearances of Jesus"; a long fancy title for visits by Jesus before being born of Mary. For many others, this is just impossible to consider; a ridiculous proposition.
That such appearances are of an "angel", and since the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 13:2 that some have entertained angels without knowing it just by being hospitable, I ascribe greater importance to being hospitable. It's not just a messenger I might entertain, but the Message Sender! If it's possible that Jesus could have visited Hagar on the road to Egypt, isn't it possible that He could also visit me in Northern Nevada?
I had a pastor once tell me that I should be careful to look for "demons under every rock" by which he meant, not everything bad is demonic, but often just people exercising their right to be foolish. Such a view point also works for this. I shouldn't look for Jesus in every stranger who shows up unlooked for. On the other hand, I should be hospitable in general because I never know. Jesus makes this interesting distinguishing evaluation of people at the final judgment in Matthew 25:31-46. He basically points out that the "sheep" were generous and hospitable to Him without knowing it, and the "goats" weren't generous or hospitable to Him without knowing it. Now he does make the point of saying that the "least of these" are opportunities to be generous and hospitable to Him, but still, the connection is there.
So, the AOL inspires me to be hospitable and generous with others, perhaps with my church, and with my family. I can't look at my resources and decide that I can't afford to be hospitable, the calling the judgment of my Master is pretty clear on this point. If He has called me to such actions so clearly in His Scriptures, then it really is up to Him to supply the resources. I may not be able to afford to be hospitable, but my Master can. So, when I need a simple disbursement, I know that I can have it because I'm simply obeying my Master, the Source of all I need anyway. The resources are not my problem, only the submission and obedience. That's nice to know.
There has been lots of debate over whether the "angel of the LORD" was actually "the LORD" as opposed to an intermediary. The account in Genesis 16 is the first appearance of this Bible character. And in this account is also the first reference where the Messenger is closely tied with the One sending the message. They are connected so closely, in fact, that to see the Messenger is to see the One sending the message.
Hagar had fled because she had treated Sarai, her mistress, with contempt and Sarai drove her away. She had treated Sarai with contempt because she had become pregnant by Abram at Sarai's insistence. Since she had become pregnant when Sarai couldn't she had contempt for Sarai; she forgot her place.
The Angel of the LORD (AOL, a better meaning than "America Online") finds Hagar on the way south back to Egypt (where Hagar is from). There He opens the conversation with the question, "Where are you coming from and going to?" One of the elements to this story that isn't questioned much is what did Hagar experience in this encounter that she could hold this conversation? She replies, but did she see someone for her talk to? It seems she did. So the AOL is a visible character, and this is not a dream of Hagar's.
He helps her figure out what to do, how to behave, and what will happen. It isn't all good news. Her son will be a wild donkey-man; not all that encouraging. And nestled away in this description is the news that Ismael will not be the "promised one". Again, that couldn't be all that encouraging either. Yet, there is the promise that her son would be a great nation with lots of descendants as well. That was encouraging. Bad news and good news; or good news, but not all that good.
So, after getting her "marching orders", she worships (called on the name of the LORD), and gives God a new name, El-Roi (yep, like the Jetsons, "...his boy Elroy..."). But for her it meant, "The God Who Sees", or "...sees me." Her explanation for this is her wonder that she "remained alive after seeing Him." So, Hagar understood that seeing AOL was the same as seeing the LORD.
So, what's the point for me? Hagar saw a physical manifestation of God. From my perspective as a follower of Jesus, I call such sights Jesus, the physical manifestation of God as a man. This is not a "required" understanding by any means, but for many (or some), these are categorized as "pre-incarnate appearances of Jesus"; a long fancy title for visits by Jesus before being born of Mary. For many others, this is just impossible to consider; a ridiculous proposition.
That such appearances are of an "angel", and since the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 13:2 that some have entertained angels without knowing it just by being hospitable, I ascribe greater importance to being hospitable. It's not just a messenger I might entertain, but the Message Sender! If it's possible that Jesus could have visited Hagar on the road to Egypt, isn't it possible that He could also visit me in Northern Nevada?
I had a pastor once tell me that I should be careful to look for "demons under every rock" by which he meant, not everything bad is demonic, but often just people exercising their right to be foolish. Such a view point also works for this. I shouldn't look for Jesus in every stranger who shows up unlooked for. On the other hand, I should be hospitable in general because I never know. Jesus makes this interesting distinguishing evaluation of people at the final judgment in Matthew 25:31-46. He basically points out that the "sheep" were generous and hospitable to Him without knowing it, and the "goats" weren't generous or hospitable to Him without knowing it. Now he does make the point of saying that the "least of these" are opportunities to be generous and hospitable to Him, but still, the connection is there.
So, the AOL inspires me to be hospitable and generous with others, perhaps with my church, and with my family. I can't look at my resources and decide that I can't afford to be hospitable, the calling the judgment of my Master is pretty clear on this point. If He has called me to such actions so clearly in His Scriptures, then it really is up to Him to supply the resources. I may not be able to afford to be hospitable, but my Master can. So, when I need a simple disbursement, I know that I can have it because I'm simply obeying my Master, the Source of all I need anyway. The resources are not my problem, only the submission and obedience. That's nice to know.
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