"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42) The apostles spend their time teaching the young church. The members spend their time learning, working together for the kingdom of God, eating together, and praying together. There is power in this type of atmosphere, which is why the Apostle Paul instructed the church not to give up meeting together and encouraging each other. (Hebrews 10:25) He said this because he knew that unity gives us strength. We should be regularly meeting together, working together, eating together, and praying together. We are all part of one big family of God and, like anyone who loves his or her family members, we should earnestly desire to spend time together learning about our Lord and offering encouragement to each other.
"Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles." (Acts 2:43) Just as Jesus presented His credentials to prove He was the Messiah, the apostles present their credentials (accompanying signs and wonders) as proof that the gospel message is the truth.
"All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:44-47) We need to stop a minute and take note that the giving to a common fund was voluntary. Should we have any doubts about this, Peter's questions to a man named Ananias in Acts 5:4 proves that no one was forcing believers to sell everything they had and give the money to the church, "Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal?"
We can't compare the giving that took place in the early church with things such as communism or religious cults in which the relinquishment of money and possessions is forced. Because the believers were spending all their time together, it was natural they would bring all their resources together. This allowed the apostles to devote all their waking hours to preaching the gospel instead of working to put food on the table. The poor were hearing the gospel and being saved; the communal fund of the early church allowed the poor to study the Scriptures without their bellies growling with hunger. The circumstances of the early church made it necessary to combine the funds of the members who willingly gave them, but we are not commanded to sell everything we have and give it to the church. I would beware of any religious leader who makes such a statement. Unless Almighty God, through the clear instruction of the Holy Spirit, has told you to do such a thing---don't do it.
We are to give to the Lord's work, however. The Apostle Paul had several things to say about giving. He says to give generously, but only if it can also be done cheerfully, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) Paul also points out that each member of the church has things to give to the church, and while everyone who can should give monetarily to the work of the Lord, there are additional ways to give to the work of the Lord, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophecy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." (Romans 12:6-8)
Because we belong to Christ, everything that belongs to us belongs to Christ, and we should be prayerfully led by the Holy Spirit as to how we can use our belongings, our money, and our talents for Christ. We are to give back to Him a portion of what He has blessed us with, whether that means money or time or talents or work skills. In the Old Testament we find the command to give a tithe (a tenth); many still observe this custom in the church and there's nothing wrong with that. But if anything, I think the New Testament encourages us to give more than a tenth, because no specific amount is commanded and we are simply told to be generous. We should be led by the Spirit in how best to devote our money or our time or our talents to the Lord. And we should pray that He would help us to be cheerful and generous in whatever He commands us to do, for "God loves a cheerful giver". (2 Corinthians 9:7) The blessing we receive in return is based on the attitude of our hearts. If we give reluctantly, we might as well not give at all. But if we give cheerfully and willingly, God is pleased with our offering, whether that offering consists of money, prayers made for others, the use of our talents in the church, the use of our time to help and encourage fellow believers, or the work we do for Christ out in the community. No matter what God calls us to do with our money or with our other blessings, let's strive to do all things for the right reason: because we love the Lord Jesus Christ and because we love His church.
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