Act 4:32 (ESV) Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

Unity and selflessness go hand in hand.

Selfishness destroys unity.

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Act 4:33 (ESV) And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

This is the unifying focus…

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Act 4:34 (ESV) 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

How do we define needy? It can be a relative term - relative to or dependent on who’s perspective you look from.

Coaching kids on a ski hill

- Need better phone

- Need new skis

Walking in Gbarnga

- Need new shoes

- Need a new shirt

Working at the clinic

- Need malaria medicine

- Need surgery

NEEDY, a. Necessitous; indigent; very poor; distressed by want of the means of living.

So how are we to discern?

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Act 4:35 (ESV) and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

By doing it in this manner, they were able to discern which need was greatest… They had finite resources and needed to distribute them wisely.

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Act 4:36 (ESV) Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

Act 4:37 (ESV) sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

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No one has unlimited resources except God.

We are called to be good stewards of the resources God gives us.

Key principles:

1. Let go of ownership - acknowledge God’s ultimate ownership.

2. Prayerfully consider how God would have you use the resources He has placed in your hands.

3. Work to make objective decisions

1. Seek counsel or outside input to discern where God would have you use or place HIS resources.

2. Take the resources to a plurality of people in authority who are submissive to and guided by the Spirit.

1. They should humbly seek God’s wisdom

Selfishness hoards or misuses the resources. Selfishness is never satisfied and desires to gain from the process.

Yet there is balance - the New Testament believers retained ownership until directed by God.

We don’t read of any dying of starvation so that others could eat.

Let go of things

- be selfless NOT selfish!

Seek God’s guidance and direction

Pursue honoring Him with all that you have.

Managing God’s resources

God has given us life and with it ability with which we can honor Him. Each one of us should be looking for how we can honor him with the resources we have been given. Those resources include the ability to accomplish things.

2Th 3:6-10 (ESV)

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,

8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.

9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.

10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.