If I could travel back in time I there are many places I would like to go, but I would really like to go be a part of the early church the way it is described in Acts.  I would love to get a glimpse into what their giving looked like compared to ours today.  Acts 4 talks about the provision of the early church and how because of their giving out of hearts that we of one mind God bestowed GREAT POWER and MUCH GRACE on them.  Wow!  That means that because they took care of one another He allowed them to operate in miraculous power and His favor and blessing were upon them.  Giving out of hearts of love moves the heart of God.  Imagine being in a church where every need was met.  Now we have to realize the difference between true need and wants and we would conclude that some have need out of their own poor management of the resources that God has given them.  But no one was needy.  Meeting the needs of one another is what moves the heart of God.  When we are meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ God's power and favor is upon us.  That priniciple is all throughout scripture yet it seems to be where we fail the most.  Why is that?  I think these believers were whole heartedly dedicated to Christ.  Their hearts were turned toward him.  The sacrifice of Jesus was real to them and they in turn sacrificed.  To many of us it's just a story that inspires us to try to live a good life.   When was the last time you heard of someone selling a piece of land or house and giving the money to a church.   We parade around in our righteousness and worship in our huge buildings and we think that we are honoring God.  I'm not interested in giving my $ to a building fund.  The Scripture says that we are the church, the living stones.  I'll gladly give my $ to the living stones.  The living stones are  where God dwells now.  We no longer have to build cathedrals to honor God.  We honor him by taking care of those he loves and by treating ourselves as the dwelling place of God. 

Sacrificial giving is what God desires.  Just as he sacrificed his only son we are called to sacrifice to one another.  Read II Samuel and see that David understood that giving something to God that cost him nothing was not an option.  It's easy to give out of our surplus, but God wants us to trust him and give when he moves us to even when it looks like we can't.  What will happen?  I believe God's power and grace would be upon us.  I think the provision of the early church is fascinating and a concept that is lost on the church of America.  I read a modern parallel of Acts 4 in my commentary that talks of how Luke would have to rephrase much of what was written if he were writing today.  He might say something like this:

"And the multitude of them that professed were of hard heart and stony soul, and every one said that all the things which he possessed were his own; and they had all things in fashion.  And with great power gave they witness to the attractions of this world, and great selfishness was upon them all.  And there were many among them that lacked loved, for as many were possessors of lands bought more, and sometimes gave a small part thereof for a public good, so their names were heralded in the newspapers, and distribution of praise was made to every one according as he desired."

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