THE CHURCH THAT GOT IT by Pam Nunn

“They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” Acts 2:45 (TNIV)

Fellowship! That’s one of the things that I love most about North Hills Church, and I believe it is at the heart of our church… the fellowship we share with one another. The last half dozen verses of the second chapter of Acts describe the fellowship that the early church had. They devoted themselves to fellowship, sharing food, and prayer. I especially love verse 44: “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” Doesn’t that sound like North Hills on a beautiful Sabbath morning? When we worship God, together, we have “everything in common.”

But this next verse… selling property and possessions, to give to anyone who has need. Does this apply to us… to me? The early church shared everything with their brothers and sisters, selflessly denying themselves. And we admire the love they demonstrated—their love for God, and for each other—by doing that. But… they didn’t have smart phones. They didn’t have $1,000 cameras, and $3,000 computers. They didn’t have cars that require four- to six-year loans. Sharing a load of firewood is one thing, but… sell my car? Sell everything I have? That’s scary.

There have been times in my life when I have thought, “I could never do this,” or “I could never do that.” Fear kept me from even considering the possibility. But the Bible says “…Perfect love puts fear out of our hearts.” (1 John 4:18, NLV) And when one of my biggest fears became reality a few years ago, and our house caught on fire, I found that God’s love really did put fear out of my heart.

We suffered a huge loss, but you know what? Nearly everything was replaceable. And I discovered that a lot of the “stuff” that was destroyed really didn’t need to be replaced. I remember fireman after fireman coming up to me with handfuls of slightly wet, slightly charred photographs (firemen are my heroes, by the way). How important I used to think those photos were. But God saved the Really Important Thing that was in that house… my husband.

I never would have thought that I could be strong enough to survive such a tragedy, and praise Him at the same time. But I found out that I can do everything…  “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:13, NLT) 

Sell everything and give it to the poor? Yeah, that’s scary. But God’s love takes away the “scary” and Christ gives us the strength to do what God asks.

P.N.

Think about it:  Do I have the strength to truly follow Jesus, to truly deny myself, and give everything to those in need?