WE ARE CALLED TO A LIFESTYLE OF GIVING
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“Contributing to the needs of the
saints, practicing hospitality.”—Romans 12:13 (NASB)
In our
scripture reading for today, the word contributing
is koinoneo in the Greek language and, “describes
the sharing of one’s possessions, with the implication of some kind of joint
participation and mutual interest,” according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
of the Bible. Additionally, the
thought behind the meaning of the present tense of the word means to have a “lifestyle
of sharing.”
Koinoneo was used in Greek marriage
contracts where the husband and wife agree to a joint-participation in the
necessities of life. The key idea is
that of a partnership. In contrast to modern day marriages, in many
nations of the world, there are “pre-nuptial” agreements.
Christian koinonia means sharing the burdens and
the blessings of others so that we all grow together and glorify the Lord. It is much more than a pat on the back and a
handshake.
The idea is not just the outward act of giving but,
sharing in one’s own heart the burden of need felt by the needy, and the sense
of a common ownership of those things that can meet these needs. “Now
the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did
anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all
things in common. And with great power
the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great
grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all
who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the
things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they
distributed to each as anyone had need.” (Acts 4:32-35). Following
the example of the early Church, we are to identify ourselves with the needs of
the saints and make them our own.
The words of Apostle Paul continue to exhort us
today, “So we being many are one body in
Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:5). “And if one
member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored,
all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). When
the children of God fall into want, we are to take a part of their wants upon ourselves,
and to make their wants our wants to the full extent of our ability to relieve
them. Which should be a natural outflow
of the truth, that although we "are
many,
(we) are
one
body
in Christ
and individually
members
one
of another
and so if
one
member
suffers
all
the members
suffer
with them.
Although you may be in need yourself, no one is
excluded from God’s promise of giving and receiving, “Give, and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down shaken
together, and running over will be poured into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it
will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).
The early Church understood the principal of family—sharing what you
have for the common good of all so that all may be strong.
Prayer—Father I thank You that
you have called me to a lifestyle of giving.
Please forgive me for the times that I have held back because I did not
clearly understand why I was to give.
Help me Lord to never hold back from helping our family—the saints, in
Jesus Name. Amen.
