Sharing

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

SHARING

Acts 11:27-30

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. 

NIV

It is interesting that we have a New Testament prophet which does give us an insight into the office of the prophet as Paul outlines for us in his letter to the Ephesians. Some would say that all the gifts, especially tongues, interpretation, and prophecy, which are considered verbal gifts, stopped with the disciples. However, the four offices, Apostle, Evangelist, prophet, pastor, and teacher should still be happening as every church has one of the offices, pastor, and many denominations have evangelists, only they call them missionaries. God established the gifts and no matter what men may say, the gifts have never been taken back. What has the center stage in this passage is the action or response of the believers to the prophecy about a coming famine. It would seem normal for people to store up before the famine struck, such as Joseph did as second in command of Egypt. Although this was the way God directed so there would be food in Egypt so that Israel would be saved and even thrive because of the famine and the storing up of grain. Here, we see another response from those who lived in Antioch. They felt it was needed to send a gift to the believers in Judea because they would experience future famine. This is Christian charity at one of its finest hours. Would we not expect that because each gave according to his ability, God blessed them abundantly during the famine? It has been said, “You cannot outgive God”, although in the context it might have been a silver-tongued flock fleecer, who said it.   However, the statement is correct. We cannot outgive God, as first, He sent his Son to redeem us, to save of from the penalty of sin, and give us eternal life. Who can outgive that? Secondly, God blesses us with spiritual wisdom, to see the truth, and the power to live the truth.  In addition, he blesses those who give to others, who help those who are or will be, as in the case in this passage, in need. Still, it gives us the idea that this is not about a tithe, but about simply giving to others in need that is motivated by Christian love. This type of giving has never stopped. This is Christian sharing.