Acts 2:44
All the believers were together and had everything in common.
I was thinking for a few moments about this today and I found myself framing this issue with a question:
What is it that worries us about sharing possessions?
I think it is the fear that our contribution will be abused – that our generosity will be taken advantage of, that we will not be able to count on others to be fair and considerate.
In itself, sharing your possessions or having shared possessions is quite a joyous practice. You get a heightened sense of usefulness, a sense of giving, as sense of helping. The sharing is a positive, it is the abuse that is negative.
Why is it that we cannot trust our brothers and sisters, that we cannot rely on them to be considerate? Is this a shortcoming of our relationship with them. Is our fear of having common property simply an indicator about the state of our relationships?
If so, what can be done? I’m challenged to be closer and more involved with the people I call my Christian friends.
These thoughts have sprung my considerations about what is private property and what is ‘common’ property. Are even our labours (perhaps our most personal and private resource) common property in the new Kingdom?
It’s interesting that we still hold on to ‘our’ possessions even as we share them. My 14 year old son was given some money at his Confirmation in October and decided he would keep it and use it to buy Christmas presents for family, including those who had given him the money. He was roundly told off for this by the givers, and was instructed that it was ‘his’ money. “Exactly,” he responded,”it’s mine to do what I want with.”
If I say that my possessions or my time or my talents are no longer mine, but belong to my brothers and sisters in Christ, then I also give them the right to do what they want with those things; even if this means opening myself up to the possibility of being hurt. Sacrificial giving, anyone?
Hi Steve. Great story. There is an implicit pressure when given a gift that we have to use it on ourselves – even if we would prefer (and get more joy) from passing on the love!
Yes, another factor in our reluctance to share has to be our fear of hurt, our lack of trust in God to love us – thanks for that contribution Steve.
Cheers,
Mark
Good post I have always been interested in common living and thinking more about extended community, as way forward, and really shouldnt have brought that lawn mower, maybe we could look at what we can share and be more intentional about it.
Yeah, but I’ve used your lawn mower already! It tackled the long grass at the beginning of the mowing season much better than my old one would have!
I guess a good start is to at least live close to your Christian brothers and sisters… maybe God worked that for both you and I? 🙂
Personally I would like to explore unintentional sharing… 🙂
…oops, is that yours?!