CHRISTIAN GIVING

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

During this time, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 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.) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 11:27-30

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Yesterday, we saw how the Gospel had spread just as Jesus had predicted, beyond Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and toward the ends of the earth. One such place outside of Israel, the ancient Syrian city of Antioch, is a focal point in the latter stages of Acts, chapter 11.

In the past few devotions, we learned how a group of believers from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch to bring the message of good news through Jesus Christ to the people there, speaking not just to the Jews but the Greeks as well. The scriptures tell us the hand of the Lord was with them and this resulted in a great number of people believing and turning to Jesus, both Jew and Gentile.

Well, news of the conversions started to spread outside of Antioch and we saw in yesterday’s message how they made it all the way south to Jerusalem. The apostles there dispatched Barnabas, a man described as being good and full of the Holy Spirit and faith, to see first-hand the work the Lord was doing in the Syrian city. And upon arriving, Barnabas’ heart was filled with gladness and he encouraged all the new Jesus believers to stand firm and remain true to their newfound faith.

We read where Barnabas was so excited about what was happening in Antioch that he traveled northwest to Tarsus to find Saul so he could bring him to the Syrian city. The scriptures tell us that the good friends spent a year teaching the new believers in Antioch and those Jesus followers were the very first to bear the title of Christians.  

Now, that would have been plenty on its own in regard to Antioch but as chapter 11 closes, we see yet one more important event happen, one that had to bring a smile to the faces of God and Jesus.

For as we turn to our passage today, we learn how “some prophets” journeyed from Jerusalem to Antioch with some grim news. For bad times were coming in the way of a great famine for the entire Roman world during the reign of Claudius. These times always created incredible need as farmers lost their source of income and the ensuing food shortage resulted in the threat of widespread death through starvation. The message was delivered by a man named Agabus who had it given to him by the Holy Spirit.  

So how would the newly christened Christian church in Antioch respond?

In great charity. For we read where the Christian disciples “decided to provide help for their brother and sister Christians in Judea, giving “as each one was able” and sending their gifts to the elders in Judea by way of Barnabas and Saul.

What a blessing this had to be for the Christians in Judea as they received help from fellow Jesus believers who they had never met. I’m sure they gave thanks to the Lord for the generosity extended and looked forward to returning the favor to others when the opportunity presented itself.

Through the Antioch Christians, we get a glimpse of what true Christian giving looks like.

First, it’s self sacrificial but not intended to bankrupt the giver. The Christians in Antioch gave as each one was able. I’m sure some could give much out of an abundance of their riches while others contributed less but just as much from a matter of sacrifice. It’s been said that a dollar doesn’t seem like much until you only have five dollars to your name. The Lord wants us to give as we can but he doesn’t expect us to place ourselves in poverty doing so.

Second, Christian giving doesn’t hesitate. It responds quickly to a need when it’s presented.

We didn’t read where the Antioch Christians had to deliberate for a period of time before they decided to give. No, they just gave as they could when the need was made known. There was no time or need to delay.

Finally, Christian giving needs to let others see Jesus, the Author of sacrificial giving, the One who was willing to lay His own life down for the needs of all mankind. The needs of the many were more important than the needs of the few or the one, if I may borrow from a classic line in television.

When Jesus knew of a need, He never hesitated to address it in His perfect way and His perfect time. We read of it over and over and over again as we study the Gospels.

The Antioch Christians, new to learning the ways of Jesus from, Barnabas and Saul, put their education to work immediately. It’s one thing to be taught something but the proof of the instructional effectiveness comes when the knowledge is applied. Through the believers of Antioch, we see the raw essence of what Christian benevolence looks like.

I pray we all will seek to follow their lead in the way that we provide for others.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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