I couple of things stick out to me in this section. After Peter & John meet with the Sanhedrin and they tell the other believer's about their meeting, they seem to immediately go into prayer. They don't stand around and bitch and moan about how they were treated, instead they go directly into prayer and ask God to give them the words that would upend any accusations against them. Also, they don't pray that the Sanhedrin would all die, but simply pray that God would endow the believers with the ability to speak honestly and boldly.
Most of the time, instead of engaging in prayer, I whine, complain, or mock (behind their backs, of course). And honestly, I can be just as guilty as the priests, sanhedrin, and temple official were -- I hear other Christians claim to see miracles done, maybe healing or masses coming to Christ -- and my first move is to be cynical and mutter "bullshit" under my breathe.
Acts 4:32-36
"No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had...There were no needy persons among them...from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet..."
I'm trying to imagine being THAT sold out to a cause. It's hard to. I don't know if I could sell my land or my home and just give the money to the church. That's a terrifying idea and if flies in the face of everything I consider safe and sane. (Which I believe is the point.)
I look at the $660k Shoal Creek owes on the building and think, "well let the more well off people at SC3 take care of it." I tend to be very greedy with my money. Especially since I don't have much of it. I keep trying to barter with God and say, "You know God, if I had a better job where I made more, I'd be able to give more." But if I look at myself honestly, I don't know if my giving skills would increase as much as my hoarding/buying stupid crap skills would.
Why does money feel like such a Catch-22? I can't really live without it: it buys my shelter, food, pays my bills, and can buy me medicine -- but at the same time, it will probably be the very thing that kills me.
Most of the time, instead of engaging in prayer, I whine, complain, or mock (behind their backs, of course). And honestly, I can be just as guilty as the priests, sanhedrin, and temple official were -- I hear other Christians claim to see miracles done, maybe healing or masses coming to Christ -- and my first move is to be cynical and mutter "bullshit" under my breathe.
Acts 4:32-36
"No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had...There were no needy persons among them...from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet..."
I'm trying to imagine being THAT sold out to a cause. It's hard to. I don't know if I could sell my land or my home and just give the money to the church. That's a terrifying idea and if flies in the face of everything I consider safe and sane. (Which I believe is the point.)
I look at the $660k Shoal Creek owes on the building and think, "well let the more well off people at SC3 take care of it." I tend to be very greedy with my money. Especially since I don't have much of it. I keep trying to barter with God and say, "You know God, if I had a better job where I made more, I'd be able to give more." But if I look at myself honestly, I don't know if my giving skills would increase as much as my hoarding/buying stupid crap skills would.
Why does money feel like such a Catch-22? I can't really live without it: it buys my shelter, food, pays my bills, and can buy me medicine -- but at the same time, it will probably be the very thing that kills me.
1 comments:
The point of giving isn't "what can I give and still have plenty for myself". It's "what can I sacrifice in order to give".
That's depending on the Lord. And He will provide for you.
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