Acts 11:25-30: a reflection

25Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 27Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius. 29As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; 30which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

The believers at Antioch hear, through a prophecy, that a severe famine is coming that will bring hardship, especially to their fellow believers in Judea. And notice their response: without being pressured, each according to his ability determined to send relief to the brothers in Judea. Hearing of a coming need, they responded with practical generosity, each giving as they were able, to relieve the hardship of fellow believers they may never have met.

Notice the practical, proportionate generosity of the Antioch believers. They heard of a need, and they acted, sending relief; and each gave according to his ability, not beyond it, but truly. Their love was not mere sentiment, but practical action to meet a real need; and it was proportionate, each giving as they were able. They did not wait to be asked or pressured; hearing of the coming hardship, they determined to help, each doing their part according to what they had.

That practical, proportionate generosity is a model for our own love toward those in need. Love that is real does not stop at sympathy, but acts to meet the need, practically; and it is proportionate, each giving according to their ability. When you hear of a real need, especially among fellow believers, do not stop at feeling sorry; act, as the Antioch believers acted, to help, each according to your ability. Do not wait to be pressured, or excuse yourself because you cannot do everything; give as you are able, doing your part, as they did. Practical, proportionate generosity, giving according to your ability to meet real needs, is the shape of love in action; let your love, like theirs, move from sympathy to practical help, each doing their part according to what they have, to relieve the needs of others.

Lord, the believers at Antioch, hearing that a severe famine was coming, responded with practical generosity: each according to his ability determined to send relief to the brothers in Judea, without being pressured. Let their practical, proportionate generosity be a model for my own love toward those in need. Love that is real does not stop at sympathy, but acts to meet the need, practically; and it is proportionate, each giving according to their ability. When I hear of a real need, especially among fellow believers, keep me from stopping at feeling sorry; help me act, as the Antioch believers acted, to help, each according to my ability. Keep me from waiting to be pressured, or excusing myself because I cannot do everything; help me give as I am able, doing my part, as they did. Practical, proportionate generosity, giving according to my ability to meet real needs, is the shape of love in action; let my love, like theirs, move from sympathy to practical help, doing my part according to what I have, to relieve the needs of others. Make my love practical, Lord, and my giving proportionate and real.