The Bible Edge
Everyone needs an Edge, Believers can have a Bible Edge
Acts 4:37
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Barnabas, that is who today’s verse is talking about; was a Levite from Cyprus whose birth name was Joses. He sold the land he owned and gave the money to the Apostles to be used to care for the flock. What a man! No wonder he would go on to be a preacher, one of Paul’s co-workers and a blessing to many. His act of selling his land and giving it to that first church was an act of a man who chose to totally die to this world and all of its attachments. He evidently valued the needs of others above the ownership of the land. He gave.
He…brought the money. Who knows why other than love that he did this. But he did. Perhaps he was preparing to “go into the ministry” and did not want to be encumbered by the things of this world. Perhaps he saw a need and knew he could help. Perhaps he had some other impetus behind his gift, or it could be a mixture of all these. But one thing is certain. He brought the money and gave it freely.
Jesus said during the Sermon on the mount, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21). Barnabas’ heart was on the needs of others hence his treasure was put there. It seems that the use of money always identifies that which a person treasures. Two great quotes about money are attributed to Ben Franklin. One is “The use of money is all the advantage there is in having it.” Another is “Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants.”
Truly, Barnabas was a man who loved others more than he loved money. What a wonderful way to live a life.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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