Christian Benevolence and Giving
The action of these new disciples was the natural result of their conversion, which was thorough. They justly regarded not only themselves but also their property as belonging to God. But there were many of God's children in needy circumstances. What more natural than that, having more than a sufficiency for themselves, they should supply the wants of their destitute brethren? They had the Holy Spirit in their hearts, and selfishness cannot exist where the Spirit of God is. Love, true benevolence, is one of the first of the fruits of the Spirit. The first thing that Zaccheus said when he felt the influence of the Spirit in his heart was, "Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor." This was doubtless nearly equivalent to selling all his property, since he also proposed to restore fourfold to those whom he had wronged; it was a good evidence of his conversion. The same thing is required to-day as much as it was then. Read James 1:27; 1 John 3:17. It must be remembered, however, that in the case under consideration there was no indiscriminate giving. They parted with their goods "to all men, as every man had need." This shows that the modern communistic idea that all men must have an equal amount of property was not in their minds. They simply "distributed to the necessity of the saints;" and in order that there might be no mistake or confusion, they put their money at the disposal of the heads of the church. This is an example to guide us in our liberality.