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| Ability and Need are Related |
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Regardless of one’s political and economic convictions, there is a God given relationship expressed throughout the Bible between ability and need. God blesses people with ability and it is His expectation that those with the ability take care of those in need. This is in direct opposition to greed which is not of God.
We find the Christ followers in Antioch being blessed in Acts 11:19-26. The work of God in Antioch was authenticated by good works. It was in Antioch that Christ followers were first called Christian which means good, kind, loving benevolent, useful and generous. They showed their love in practical ways.
Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
(Acts 11:27-30 ESV)
Claudius Caesar ruled from A.D. 41 to 54. During this period there was a series of bad harvests and serious famines in various parts of the Roman Empire. Jewish historian Josephus wrote of a great famine during the reign of Claudius that oppressed the people of Judea. Many people starved to death without the means to obtain food. Two Roman historians, Tacitus and Suetonius, have recorded that there were several localized famines during the Claudius period. Barnabas arrived at Antioch in A.D. 41 which was the beginning of Claudius’ rule.
In this paragraph of Scripture we find that Luke, the author of Acts, was more concerned with recording the generous response of the Christ followers in Antioch than he was with the fulfillment of the prophecy of famine. We can glean much from these verses of Scripture that will help us be everything that God intends for us to be in our day.
First of all notice that the need was presented by the moving of the Holy Spirit. Prophecy is a gift of the Spirit and a verbal manifestation. Prophecy is both foretelling and forthtelling, but prophecy in the Bible is mostly forthtelling or speaking God’s message rather than foretelling the future. The important fact here is that God revealed a need to the Christ followers in Antioch by the Holy Spirit. Beloved, God identifies needs to us in our day and if we are people of the Spirit and we walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh, we will know when God is revealing a need to us that he has given us the ability to meet.
Next, notice that their faith was not dead. Their faith led to a decision and the decision led to action. Beloved, our faith will always lead to action because faith without action is dead. God’s Word says “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:14-18 ESV)
Finally, notice that they each gave according to their ability. They were not illogical in their giving and did not give beyond their means. Each one voluntarily gave what they could based on the ability that God had given them. Beloved, God blesses us so that we can bless others. The Apostle Paul wrote “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 ESV)
Beloved, God’s requirement for us in our day is very simple. As we are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, He will show us needs that we can meet based upon the ability that He has given us. Whether we act or not will be based upon the condition of our faith. If our faith is dead, we will do nothing. If our faith is alive, we will utilize the ability that God has given us to meet the need that He reveals to us.
I encourage you today to recognize the ability that God has given you. Your ability is a gift of God’s precious and amazing grace. Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He will direct you to needs that you can meet based on the ability you have been given. Be quick to act upon your faith. Decide in your heart what you are to do and act upon it, not reluctantly or under compulsion, realizing that God loves a cheerful giver.
Know that you are loved,
Rev. Greg Johnson
Founder
LovingGodFellowship.org
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