Son of Encouragement

March 5

(Acts 4:36 NIV) “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), {37} sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet."

(2 Corinthians 9:10-13 NIV) "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. {11} You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. {12} This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. {13} Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else."

(Romans 12:1 NIV) "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship."

Today we meet a man named Joseph, who later became known as Barnabas. Eventually, he teamed up with a convert named Paul, and together they took the gospel to much of the Gentile world around the Mediterranean Sea. Barnabas didn’t start out to be an apostle. He started out as just an ordinary guy with a generous heart -- a man who had something he was willing to give. He stepped up and gave what he had, while he was still alive, and in the process, modeled what it means to be a “living sacrifice”. Today, we think people are generous if they give their stuff away after they die. But after we die, we no longer need our stuff. Generosity is not giving away something that we don’t need. Generosity is giving away something we could still use, simply because someone else has a need for it. This is the kind of generosity that will make you a “son of encouragement”. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

New Priorities

March 4

(Acts 4:34-35 NIV) “There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales {35} and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.”

(Matthew 19:16-23 NIV)  "Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" {17} "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." {18} "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, {19} honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'" {20} "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" {21} Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." {22} When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. {23} Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."

(Luke 12:32-34 NIV) "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. {33} Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. {34} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

There were no needy persons among those who joined with the early church. They did this by applying a simple principle -- those who had more than they needed, gave to those who did not have enough. Possessions lost their power to captivate as people became disciples of Jesus and were filled with the Holy Spirit. The early believers were more interested in storing up treasure in heaven, than with accumulating wealth here on earth. The needs of the church, supporting those who preached the word, and supplying the needs of the poor, became paramount in the hearts of those touched by the grace of God. Today, spreading the gospel and ministry to our fellow believers should rank above getting our kids the latest iPhone, or having that new car, or those new clothes, or that new sports gear. It’s a matter of a new life, with new priorities. It’s the Jesus way. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Grace Giving Empowers Preaching

March 3

(Acts 4:33 NIV) “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.”

(2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV) "But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us --see that you also excel in this grace of giving."

(2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV) "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Grace giving empowers gospel preaching. The early Christians gave generously to one another as they witnessed to their changed lives, and the apostles continued to testify with great power. This combination of faith and deeds changed the world. The generous church grows -- the stingy church shrivels. Generous Christians grow -- stingy Christians shrivel. Christian witness is muted by a stingy heart, while grace giving opens the doors of heaven. This goes way beyond money -- it’s about the joyful and sacrificial giving of one’s life, one’s time, one’s love, one’s talent, and one’s heart. The church needs Christians who are more concerned with what they can offer the church, than with what the church can offer them -- believers who ask, “What can I give?” rather than, “What can I get?”. This is the kind of church the disciples belonged to, and it’s a worthy model for today. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

I Surrender All

March 2

(Acts 4:32 NIV) “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”

(2 Corinthians 8:1-5 NIV) "And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. {2} Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. {3} For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, {4} they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. {5} And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will."

This Sunday someone, somewhere, will sing the old hymn, “I Surrender All”. But almost everyone who sings it has an exception clause or two -- an unwritten list of things we won’t surrender. Very likely, that list includes some of our possessions. Soon after Pentecost, the infant church became the most generous institution on the face of the Earth. The early Christians surrendered up their possessions and shared all that they had with one another. Only fully surrendered hearts can bow like this to God’s heart. Their hearts had become one -- they now had the heart of Jesus. They not only sold out to Jesus, they sold out for one another. They gave up the right to use the word, “mine”. Vanity, envy, and striving for status had no place in their lives. This kind of giving requires divine intervention. Only a heart overflowing with the Holy Spirit can be this generous. May our hearts be filled! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day