In our series on finances, I am going to do a mini-series on this question: What did the early church spend their money on? When we look at command and example, what did the early church do with their money?

The first answer is: The church took care of the poor in the church. The key verse for this is found in Galatians. “9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9, 10, NIV.

We find examples of disciples helping the poor outside the church. Peter and John are walking by the temple when a man who cannot walk comes and ask for money. Peter and John didn’t have any, but if they had, the text insinuates they would have given. We are not wrong in helping with poverty around the world. You will hear more and more Christian churches and organizations mobilizing around the need to deal with world poverty and hunger. This is not wrong. But the priority of the early church was not to eradicate poverty or hunger in the world, the priority of the early church was to help Christians survive.

Why? This was an outflow of their love for one another. When a Christian brother or sister was in need, the church helped. In the early church, every believer was considered to be part of the church. They didn’t have formal membership. When a Christian was in need, the church was willing to help.

We find this coming up first in the book of Acts. The book of Acts in some ways is the history book of the early church. It doesn’t get into doctrine except to record sermons and dialogue.

We find this emphasis first mentioned in Acts 2. “41 Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” Acts 2:41-45, NIV.

This was a crisis of sorts. Jews had come from all around the Roman empire to celebrate Passover and Pentecost in Jerusalem. They were wonderfully converted. Things were happening. People were eating up the apostles teachings, they were encouraging each other with real Christian fellowship. They shared communion and prayed together. Everyone was filled with awe and the apostles were performing miracles.

Who would want to leave Jerusalem? As a side note, I will say that it is the neglect of these things that dampens the spirit of the church. When we decide we don’t want to hear teaching because we have too much else to do, when we don’t hang around to fellowship with believers, when we avoid communion and prayer together, it eats away at the joy, the enthusiasm, the awe of the great things that God is doing. A few weeks ago we celebrated communion. We had a large number of visitors from Liberty, Freedom, Unity and other places. One could sense the positive spirit of encouragement as we met together.

But of equal significance was verse 44 and 45. Every financial need was met by other believers.

In Acts 4 we find the same thing happening. “32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No-one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” Acts 4:32-35, NIV.

Now in case we think this was totally wonderful, I will say that I overstated this. One picture we need to clear up was this. Not everyone sold what they had at one time. From time to time they sold land or houses when the need was announced by the apostles. In chapter 5 Annanias and Sapphria are struck dead when they lied about how much they gave. They sold their house and gave a portion to the apostles. But they said that they gave all.

Not every need was met, Acts 6 tells us that this was so. “1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.”

The Grecian Jews were Jews that did not live in Judea or Jerusalem. They were Jews who were scattered around the Roman Empire in Greece and surrounding areas. The Hebraic Jews lived in Israel. Some of them had problems with people who lived among the Gentiles. This prejudice shows up in the distribution to the widows. The ones getting the help were all local people. Those from away were being ignored.

The solution for the church was to divide responsibilities. The apostles continued with the teaching ministry. Seven men were chosen to help the needy in the church. This group later was called servants or deacons. The church actually organized around teaching and helping those in need in the church.

“27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.” Acts 11:27-30, NIV.

Here we find that the giving was not limited to a local church. When trouble arose in Jerusalem, the church in Antioch pitched in to help.

In Jerusalem, Paul and the apostles discuss the inclusion of Gentiles and how to deal with these new converts. Paul sums up the answer in Galatians 2:9-10. “9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognised the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”

James writes much later these words: “27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27, NIV.

So what is the application to us?

First, I will say that I believe that God’s blessing is on us when we help people like Jeff Malloy and the Stetson Union Church. I believe that we are doing right to have a benevolence fund to help those in need. I believe that when we come to a workday and help split wood, some of which may be going to help those in need during the winter months, God is pleased.

I would also say that God is pleased when we as individuals help one another. When we see a Christian in need and we take it on ourselves to help them. I believe that God is pleased when we help others, especially those of the household of faith.

Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” There is nothing more loving than having people come to your home to mow your lawn or fix a ramp or help stack wood when you are laid up. There is nothing more loving than to have fuel assistance when you cannot pay to keep your house warm.

Second, don’t hesitate to help others in need as well. The priority should be other believers. If we have to make a choice, help the Christian. But so many times it is not an either/or situation. If someone has a need and they walk across our path, we need to prayerfully consider if God is calling us to give.

Two men were walking on the road to Emmaus. A stranger appeared. They wondered if the stranger knew about the things that had happened in Jerusalem. “What things?” the man asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.” Luke 24:19, NIV.

Powerful in word and deed. Powerful in word and deed. Powerful in word and deed. That was the point of the eulogy at Jesus’ death. He spoke powerfully and he backed up his words with powerful deeds.

John said in 1 John “18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18, NIV. Selah.