"LAID IT DOWN!"

Acts 4:32-37                   (1599 Geneva Bible)
"32 And the MULTITUDE of them that believed, were of ONE HEART, and of ONE SOUL: neither any of them said, that anything of that which he possessed, was his own, but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and GREAT GRACE was upon them ALL.
34 Neither was there any among them, that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the price of the things that were sold,
35 And "LAID IT DOWN" at the Apostles’ feet, and it was distributed unto every man, according AS HE HATH NEED.
36 Also Joses which was called of the Apostles, Barnabas (that is by interpretation, the son of consolation) being a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Where as he had land, sold it, and brought the money, and "LAID IT DOWN" at the Apostles’ feet."


The "CHURCH" was a new phenomenon in the first century. True "BELIEVERS" were a Spirit led people who only wanted GOD to be glorified with their lives and possessions.  They were  "of ONE HEART, and of ONE SOUL" and shared everything, as they saw all of their possessions as coming from GOD.

It appears the needs of the people were were seen as part of their body needing attention.  There wasn't a government program or higher authority to oversee the distribution of goods. Goods were "distributed unto every man, according AS HE HATH NEED".  GOD supplied the  goods (GREAT GRACE) because HE is the ONE who knew the true needs.

 How have things have changed since?  Governments, in their limited wisdom, now determine who should benefit from the goods of others by a man-made determination of need!  How can government (man) determine the "intent of the heart"?   Mankind, regardless of their motives, does not have the capacity to change a heart!  Untold monies have been spent trying to address poverty, race relations, gender equality, and every other kind of perceived injustice.  Mankind has proven it cannot, outside of GOD'S direction, achieve anything of any importance.

Our only HOPE lies in the ONE who has already paid for our inadequacies.  In John 10:17-18 JESUS explains to us that when HE "LAID IT DOWN" (HIS life), that HE had the power to take it up again.  The church was following the example of JESUS when they "LAID IT DOWN" in Acts 4!   Mankind must return to the humility and servant hood shown by JESUS when HE "LAID IT DOWN"!