Generosity vs. Greed: Lessons from the Early Church

Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we delved into Acts 4:32-5:11, exploring the stark contrast between generosity and greed within the early church. The passage begins by highlighting the unity and generosity of the early believers, who were of one heart and soul, sharing their possessions and ensuring that no one among them was in need. This spirit of generosity not only created unity but also furthered the mission of spreading the gospel. The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, testified to the resurrection of Jesus, and the believers' generous acts supported this mission.

We then examined the story of Barnabas, who sold a field and laid the proceeds at the apostles' feet, exemplifying how generosity marks leadership. Barnabas, known as the "son of encouragement," set a powerful example of selfless giving. In contrast, we looked at the tragic story of Ananias and Sapphira, who sold a piece of property but deceitfully kept back part of the proceeds while claiming to have given all. Their hypocrisy and greed led to their sudden deaths, serving as a sobering reminder of the seriousness with which God views deceit and greed within His church.

Generosity, as we see, is not just about financial giving but encompasses our time, words, and presence. It is a heart posture inspired by the Holy Spirit, leading to spontaneous acts of love and support within the community. On the other hand, greed and hypocrisy tear down the church, revealing the idols in our hearts. Ultimately, we are called to be stewards of God's blessings, managing and investing them for His kingdom. Before we give anything, God has already given us everything through Jesus Christ, who calls us to join Him in His mission with a heart full of generosity and joy.

### Key Takeaways

1. Generosity Creates Unity: The early church was marked by a spirit of generosity that fostered unity among believers. When we adopt a generous heart, conflicts diminish, and harmony prevails. Generosity brings people together, creating a community where needs are met, and love abounds. [28:33]

2. Generosity Furthers the Mission: The purpose of generosity in the early church was to support the mission of spreading the gospel. Our giving should aim to further God's kingdom, ensuring that the message of Jesus' resurrection reaches more people. Generosity has eternal implications, as it contributes to the salvation of souls. [31:28]

3. Generosity Displays Love: Acts of generosity within the church are spontaneous and inspired by the Holy Spirit. They are not compulsory but voluntary, reflecting a heart posture that seeks to meet the needs of others. This kind of giving is contrary to legalism and demonstrates genuine love and care. [33:11]

4. Generosity Marks Leadership: True leadership in the church is marked by generosity. Leaders like Barnabas set an example by giving selflessly, encouraging others to do the same. Generosity in leadership fosters a culture of giving and support within the community. [37:16]

5. Greed Destroys the Church: The story of Ananias and Sapphira illustrates how greed and hypocrisy can tear down the church. Their deceit was not about the money but about the condition of their hearts. Greed reveals our idols and can lead to severe consequences, emphasizing the need for integrity and honesty in our giving. [39:45]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[26:38] - Introduction to Generosity and Greed
[27:31] - Generosity Creates Unity
[28:33] - The Spirit of Generosity
[29:49] - Thanksgiving vs. Black Friday
[30:45] - Generosity Brings Peace
[31:28] - Generosity Furthers the Mission
[32:16] - Eternal Impact of Generosity
[33:11] - Generosity Displays Love
[34:12] - Voluntary Acts of Giving
[35:04] - Generosity vs. Legalism
[36:01] - Life Together Groups
[37:16] - Generosity Marks Leadership
[37:57] - The Contrast of Greed
[38:53] - The Sin of Ananias and Sapphira
[39:45] - Consequences of Greed
[42:17] - Voluntary and Cheerful Giving
[45:03] - The Seriousness of Greed
[46:44] - Generosity Builds the Church
[47:37] - Money Reveals Our Hearts
[50:09] - Biblical View of Wealth and Poverty
[53:39] - God Gives Before We Give
[56:07] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
[01:02:33] - End of Service

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
- Acts 4:32-5:11

### Observation Questions
1. What was the state of unity among the early believers as described in Acts 4:32? How did their generosity contribute to this unity? [27:31]
2. How did Barnabas exemplify generosity, and what was his nickname given by the apostles? [27:31]
3. What was the sin of Ananias and Sapphira, and what were the consequences of their actions? [38:53]
4. According to the sermon, what are some ways generosity was displayed in the early church beyond financial giving? [33:11]

### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the unity created by generosity in the early church compare to the unity (or lack thereof) in modern churches? What factors contribute to this difference? [28:33]
2. In what ways does generosity further the mission of spreading the gospel, as seen in Acts 4:33? How can this principle be applied in today's church context? [31:28]
3. Why do you think God dealt so harshly with Ananias and Sapphira's deceit? What does this tell us about the seriousness of greed and hypocrisy in the church? [39:45]
4. How can leaders in the church today follow Barnabas's example of generosity? What impact might this have on their congregations? [37:16]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced unity in a group due to acts of generosity. How did it affect your relationships within that group? How can you foster such unity in your small group or church community? [28:33]
2. Consider the ways you can contribute to the mission of spreading the gospel through acts of generosity. What specific actions can you take this week to support this mission? [31:28]
3. Generosity is not limited to financial giving. Identify one area (time, words, presence) where you can be more generous. What steps will you take to act on this in the coming days? [33:11]
4. Think about a leader you admire for their generosity. What qualities do they exhibit that you can emulate in your own life? How can you encourage others to follow this example? [37:16]
5. Reflect on the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Are there areas in your life where you might be tempted to appear more generous or spiritual than you are? How can you address this tendency and cultivate genuine integrity? [39:45]
6. How does your current attitude towards money and possessions reflect your heart's condition? What changes can you make to ensure that your financial decisions align with a heart of generosity and stewardship? [47:37]
7. In what ways can you support and encourage others in your small group to be generous? How can you create an environment where spontaneous acts of generosity are celebrated and encouraged? [36:01]

Devotional

Day 1: Generosity Fosters Unity
The early church was characterized by a spirit of generosity that brought believers together in unity. They shared their possessions and ensured that no one among them was in need. This unity was not just about material sharing but also about being of one heart and soul, creating a community where love and support were abundant. When we adopt a generous heart, conflicts diminish, and harmony prevails. Generosity brings people together, creating a community where needs are met, and love abounds. This unity furthered the mission of spreading the gospel, as the apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, testified to the resurrection of Jesus, supported by the believers' generous acts. [28:33]

Acts 4:32-33 (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. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all."

Reflection: Think of a time when you experienced unity in your community or church. How did generosity play a role in fostering that unity, and how can you contribute to such unity today?

Day 2: Generosity Furthers the Mission
The purpose of generosity in the early church was to support the mission of spreading the gospel. The believers' acts of giving were not just about meeting immediate needs but also about ensuring that the message of Jesus' resurrection reached more people. Generosity has eternal implications, as it contributes to the salvation of souls. Our giving should aim to further God's kingdom, ensuring that the message of Jesus' resurrection reaches more people. When we give generously, we participate in God's mission, making an eternal impact. [31:28]

2 Corinthians 9:12-13 (ESV): "For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others."

Reflection: Consider how your financial giving, time, and talents can further the mission of spreading the gospel. What specific steps can you take this week to support this mission?

Day 3: Generosity Displays Love
Acts of generosity within the church are spontaneous and inspired by the Holy Spirit. They are not compulsory but voluntary, reflecting a heart posture that seeks to meet the needs of others. This kind of giving is contrary to legalism and demonstrates genuine love and care. Generosity is not just about financial giving but encompasses our time, words, and presence. It is a heart posture inspired by the Holy Spirit, leading to spontaneous acts of love and support within the community. [33:11]

1 John 3:17-18 (ESV): "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent opportunity you had to show generosity. How did it display love, and how can you continue to show love through generous acts in your daily life?

Day 4: Generosity Marks Leadership
True leadership in the church is marked by generosity. Leaders like Barnabas set an example by giving selflessly, encouraging others to do the same. Barnabas, known as the "son of encouragement," sold a field and laid the proceeds at the apostles' feet, exemplifying how generosity marks leadership. Generosity in leadership fosters a culture of giving and support within the community. When leaders give selflessly, they inspire others to follow their example, creating a ripple effect of generosity. [37:16]

1 Timothy 6:17-18 (ESV): "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share."

Reflection: Think about a leader you admire for their generosity. How has their example influenced you, and how can you emulate their generosity in your own leadership roles?

Day 5: Greed Destroys the Church
The story of Ananias and Sapphira illustrates how greed and hypocrisy can tear down the church. Their deceit was not about the money but about the condition of their hearts. Greed reveals our idols and can lead to severe consequences, emphasizing the need for integrity and honesty in our giving. Greed and hypocrisy tear down the church, revealing the idols in our hearts. Ultimately, we are called to be stewards of God's blessings, managing and investing them for His kingdom. [39:45]

James 5:1-3 (ESV): "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days."

Reflection: Reflect on any areas of your life where greed may be present. How can you address these areas with integrity and honesty, and what steps can you take to cultivate a heart of generosity instead?

Quotes

1. "The reality is you don't see a lot of conflict in church between people that are givers. People that are generous, people that are givers, people that come to the body to contribute and to give of themselves, whether it's resources, time, energy, words of encouragement. There's not a lot of conflict that goes on between the givers of a church. Now, where there's division, it really comes down to those that I would consider the takers, right? It's typically those that are the takers that cause division, cause strife, cause conflict within a church." [28:33] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "There's never a stampede, right? There's always order. There's peace. There's harmony. Because what's in the hearts of those people is generosity of giving. That's what is going on in that situation. And so here we see in the early church that the Holy Spirit causes these believers to be generous, to meet the needs of one another. And it says they're of one heart and one soul. Generous people tend to get along. Generous people tend to build unity. Unity within the body of Christ." [30:45] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When we give to the kingdom, When we give to the furtherance of this mission, There are going to be people in heaven that you're going to meet that are there because of your giving. You may not know who those people are now when you give to mission, When you give to church, When you give to the furtherance of the kingdom. You may not know what that looks like now. But there are going to be people in heaven that you're going to meet that are there because you gave generously. And so generosity furthers the mission of the kingdom, secondly." [32:16] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "What you have with a church marked by generosity is that needs are met. Needs are met in the church. And what happened here in the early church in Acts is that what we see is the Holy Spirit is initiating amongst the members these spontaneous acts of giving. Spontaneous acts of generosity. It was all voluntary. None of it was compulsory. None of it was mandated. In fact, you don't see anywhere in the Bible, anywhere in the New Testament letters. Any rule or law that the church members sell their land and sell their property and give it to the church. That's never like a rule that was laid out." [33:11] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Generosity marks leadership. Marks leadership within the church. Here, Barnabas sets an example of generous giving as a leader. And what is he called? He's called the son of encouragement. Why? Because he set an example of giving. He set an example of generosity. And, yes, this was all voluntary. But when it comes to leadership within the church, leaders should be marked by generosity. For those of you that are educators in the room, some of you teachers, what's that? That one saying leaders are readers? Or is it backwards? Readers are leaders? Well, when it comes to the kingdom, leaders are givers. Leaders are givers. Those that seek to lead by serving should be the most generous givers. We see that here with Barnabas, that generosity marks leadership." [37:16] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "The issue with money is it always reveals our heart. That's why it's so challenging. It reveals the idols in our hearts. John Calvin famously said the human heart is an idol factory. It's an idol factory. And what that means is our hearts are always looking for things to worship. And the thing is, money is not what we worship. Ultimately, money is the means by which we worship either God or our idols. And I'll say that again. Money is not what we worship. Money is a tool or the means by which we worship. Money is a tool or the means by which we worship God or our idols." [47:37] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Here's the beautiful thing about Christianity. Is that before God gives you or rather before you give anything, God gives you everything. Before you give anything, God gives you everything. That's why the gospel is different than any other religion. Because before you give anything, God gives you everything. Because our God is a giver. He's not a taker. You see, the only thing you're required to give to God to become a Christian is what? Your sin. Right? For those of you here today, maybe you're not yet a believer. And you wonder, how can I become a Christian? Well, the only thing that God requires of you to enter his kingdom, to become a Christian, to give to him, is to give him your sin. To say, Lord, I'm tired of my sin. I have a debt I can't pay." [53:39] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "But I'm going to give you my sin. In order so that you can give me your righteousness. You can give me your salvation. Your forgiveness. Your eternal life. Your promise of heaven. Adoption into your family. Right? That's all God wants from us is to give him our sin and he gives us back his righteousness, his forgiveness, his grace, his mercy. The promise of heaven one day being in these perfect bodies healed as we talked about a couple of weeks ago. And so Jesus goes to the cross. He pays the debt that we owe God. And then after that he invites you and I to be on mission with him. To introduce other people to our Savior. To introduce other people to this message of salvation." [54:39] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "And he calls us to further the kingdom. And some of that is through our giving. Some of that is through our relationships. But bottom line is that God loves a cheerful giver because there's no one more joyful than God. He is the ultimate giver. And when you and I get God's heart. Then you and I become generous. And we become joyful. And when you experience the joy of giving and you get to see others experience his grace through your generosity. Then it makes your heart that much more full. Makes you that much more joyful. And so today we saw the vivid contrast between generosity and greed. And God is calling us like the early church to be full of his spirit. Full of generosity. So that we build his kingdom rather than tear it down." [55:20] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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