City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

–Acts 4:33-35 (ESV)

A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree. 

 –Proverbs 11:28 (MSG)

Aisha’s Analysis

Today’s passage from Acts shows us that with great grace comes a great responsibility to speak truth, trust in God, and care for others. We also see two examples of generosity from Barnabas as well as Ananias and Sapphira that end quite differently (read Acts 4:32 – 5:11 for context). 

First let’s dive into how the preaching of the Word nourished and unified the community to the point that there was not a needy person among them (v. 34). Since God created humanity, people have had needs, and God ultimately meets those needs because God is our Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider. 

Seeing God as our Provider and the source of our provision diminishes greed and the compulsion to accumulate material things and fosters generosity, care for others, and overall contentment. Being in the Kingdom of God is so much bigger and flourishing than trying to build your own personal “kingdom of self.” While God calls us to be good stewards of our finances which requires prudence and wisdom, life in God’s Kingdom is never limited to just one person doing life in isolation. We are all connected by our common need for Jesus, and recognizing our need for Jesus inspires seeing and meeting the practical needs of others in whatever capacity we desire.

Joseph, who was nicknamed Barnabas, gave freely and is a wonderful example of what life in God can empower you to do. I don’t think it was necessarily about the amount that he gave, but that he gave from his heart in response to receiving the wonderful news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He gave from his heart–freely and openly. 

Not so with Ananias and Sapphira. They committed a grievous sin. It was not that they didn’t give the full amount from the sale of their property that was sinful, but the fact that they lied about the amount they gave and essentially lied to the Holy Spirit, who had been working so powerfully among the community. Sudden death as a consequence of lying to the Holy Spirit may seem harsh and stringent at first glance, but when you think about what God had been doing and the great grace that was abounding among them, we see that with great grace comes an even greater responsibility to receive that grace with care and treat the things of God as sacred and holy. 

Imagine if nothing had happened as a result of Ananias and Sapphira’s lie. Imagine if that lie permeated the community and eroded the truth of the Gospel in the community. What would have happened to Ananias and Sapphira if they thought they could get away with testing God’s grace? Their deaths signify that God holds us to a standard and does not compromise the integrity of His Word and His Presence in our lives. If we want God’s grace, we must also be willing to accept the responsibility of living according to the standards that His grace grants us. 

Application

It is a common misconception that God’s grace permits sin, but today’s scriptures show us that God’s grace fosters holiness and a commitment to the truth.

In what ways are you avoiding the responsibility of living by God’s grace? Remember that God’s grace has been made available to us to live in holiness and transparency about our choices. Honestly ask yourself, what is it that you are trying to cover up and why? Allow God’s grace to unveil what’s hidden and be willing to lay it at His feet. 

Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven, I acknowledge that I am in desperate need of Your grace. Surely, Your Holy Spirit empowers me to be holy. Help me to receive Your grace whole-heartedly that I may live in accordance with Your ways and glorify Your Holy name. In Jesus’ name, amen.