Did Jesus really say......

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." Acts 4:32-35

I know many of us question at times, the real meaning of what Jesus "meant" when He told the rich young ruler to sell everything and follow Him. We wonder does He really want us to sell all we have today and REALLY give it away to those without? Can't I keep some for myself? What if I get hungry, what if I need it for myself....the questions cn become endless - to the pont that we we do nothing for anyone.

True belief and true faith demands that we take Jesus at His word. When he said sell everything and give to the poor he meant it. He did not tell us to keep what we need for ourselves and to THEN think about helping someone else. We are to put the needs of others before our own, not our needs before theirs. That is selfish thinking and selfish giving. It also says that we really lack faith, that we really do not believe that if we sell everything and go to make disciples, that He will provide for us.

That is DANGEROUS thinking and dangerous theology. Remember the widow in Mark 12 who gave "less" than all the wealthy who made sure their offerings were loud going in so everyone would notice - and the focus would be on THEM? She gave ALL she had, and Jesus used her as an example of how we are to give - sacrificially. We are are to give until it hurts, NOT as those who gave out of of their abundance, so it did not affect their lives at all. There is nothing sacrificial about keeping what I need for myself, and then seeing to it that others are helped with my leftovers.

The people in Acts knew that nothing they had was their own. Those who had homes and property sold it willingly so that no one would be in need. They did not sell their "extra" homes and their excess land. They sold what they had, knowing that God would provide for them in the end. They did not try to determine what they needed to be comfortable. They did not put their own needs first. They put the needs of the body of believers first. They all sold their belongings to take care of one another, so that no one would be without. To miss the true meaning of this passage of scripture, and to say that it means something else entirely is to say that Jesus wants us to be selfish, to not really love our neighbors as ourselves.

The passage above says what it says, and it means exactly what it means. It does not say that they sold their extra stuff or their abundance. It does not say they kept what they needed for their basic survival and THEN sold the extra to give away. It says they selflessly sold what they had so that no one would be in need.

That is love, and that is putting the needs of others before your own needs. If we will notice, Jesus gave us a model to follow. He was the model of sacrificial giving and sacrificial love. He did not give us His leftovers. He gave us His all, and THAT is what he expects His children to do as well.