(1 of 8) Aspects of Christian fellowship in the church

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47

Consider the first of eight aspects of Christian fellowship in the church from Acts 2:44-47:

1. Church members meet one another’s needs (v.45). The church is to care for one another to meet one another’s needs. As mentioned in a previous post, however, that is not a call to socialism. There is a list of who is responsible to meet one’s needs, and the church is not at the top.

(1) The first layer of responsibility to meet one’s needs rests on the shoulder of the individual. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” (Read all of 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12.)

(2) The second layer of responsibility is the family. Paul warned Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:1-16 that families are to care for their own. He even says that if a man will not provide for his household, he has “denied the faith and is worse than a nonbeliever!” (v.8). The tenor of this passage is that the family is responsible so as not to be a burden on the church (v.16).

(3) The third layer of responsibility belongs to the church (Acts 2:45 & 1 Timothy 5:1-16). This does not mean “the church” as though it is a welfare institution. Rather the church means the people who make up the church. We are to look after one another. We can and do pool our resources by maintaining a benevolence fund that people contribute to (above and beyond their tithes). These funds are given to people in the church who are in need.

As a footnote, the key word is “needs.” When persons are legitimately doing all they can, if legitimate needs arise, we are all here to help one another “as anyone has need.”

Next Time: Church members get together often (v.46).