As a child some of the first words out of your mouth were, “This is mine,” or maybe even, “Mine.” You did not have to be taught that. You instinctively wanted what was yours, and you did not want to share.
You had to be taught to share with other people. Sadly, the lesson you learned to share was lost somewhere along your life’s journey. As an adult, you reverted back to that childhood belief and did not want to share. You have worked hard for what you have and want to use it on yourself and those you feel deserve your blessings.
The article “What Good Is a Tree?” in Reader’s Digest explained that when the roots of trees touch, there is a substance present that reduces competition. In fact, this unknown fungus helps link roots of different trees—even of dissimilar species. A whole forest may be linked together. If one tree has access to water, another to nutrients, and a third to sunlight, the trees have means to share with one another. Like trees in the forest, Christians in the church need and support one another” (Blair F. Rorabaugh). There is a need for you to share with other Christians what God brings into your life.
The early church believed the same way. The very first Christians recorded in the Bible were Christians that shared one with another. Acts 2:42-43 describes how the early Christians daily felt and acted: “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common.” Today, there is no need of miracles to confirm the gospel; today we have the Word of God. The result of God moving into people’s lives is the same—they take care of one another’s needs.
Let’s revert back to that early lesson you learned and put sharing back into practice. If it is good enough for the first century Christians, then it is good enough for you, too.
