Acts 2:44-46 (ESV)
And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts
At a glance across the globe now during pandemic, and even right at our homeland, there is a deep sense of fear of the economic downturn, which is the subsequent wave sweeping over humankind. There is wisdom to upkeep the economy in order for a smooth function of the nation and the world. Otherwise we will face economic depression. I was an adolescent preparing to face the workforce when our nation was hit badly in our economy in the late 80s. Many were retrenched including my own father who were clueless how to provide for his family. There were hardly any jobs for those who were graduated. It was through that economic crisis that I forgo my dreams to go to university, and chose another route to speed up my earning capacity without taxing on my dad, and be able to help the family with the allowance I received while training as a nurse in the hospital. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Nursing opened the door for my salvation and calling as a full time minister.
Today, having an impending economic crisis, I am not shaken. My hope rest in Jesus, who says in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” He promises he WILL supply EVERY need.
Perhaps if as a nation we are careful and tread wisely in the days, weeks, months to come to play our part not just to eradicate Covid19, but to earn and spend to balance the cost effectiveness in our economy in the big picture, we will overcome. We need to help one another to conquer whatever comes together – beginning with our own fellowship of believers as Acts 2:44-46 command. The early Christians never lacked. They were radical in their giving. That is radical faith in action. They sold their possessions and belongings, and distributed to the needs. Yes, they sold. They distributed. They were together, had in common – that spells unity. They cared. They shared. They understood kingdom economy. What they received, they gave and shared. They didn’t hoard. In receiving with favour, they gave generously and was glad.
Kingdom economy is based on biblical principles of giving and receiving. God gave, we receive, we give. The cycle repeats and everyone is blessed. Everyday souls were added into the kingdom because of the tangible love transmitted. Today we see a hoarding society. We detest it. We jeered at it. People who do not know Jesus will not ever be satisfied with “enough”. We need to show the way. We need to ask ourselves – are we like the Antioch Church? Can we embrace the truth and command laid down here? If it is a resounding yes, then the good news is we can brace the potential of economic crisis victoriously and see the church grow. However, even if the economy recovers quickly and boom, then the more we should be sharing and experiencing the blessing together. The verse begins with, “And the believers were together”. The overflow of the church always blesses the world.
“Father in Heaven, thank you for all your blessings. As we receive from you, teach us to hold loosely all the possessions and belongings and share as it ought to be. Forbid us to be Scrooge. Generously we receive from you, generously we give. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 27 March 2020.