ALL THINGS COMMON

Commonwealth is having all things ... in common. In other words, when the Christian movement started everyone shared everything. Those who would become Christian would oft times do as Jesus said and sell all worldly possessions and follow the Christian movement. They would then each contribute their gifts and talents and possessions as their part of the commonwealth.

                  Now ... with all the scams going on these days I want to be sure that you do not believe this message to mean that you should run out and give your life savings to some Church, group or man claiming to be something. It would be best for you to check the fruits well and be certain that it is God's will before making such a rash decision. In addition ... I am not saying tithes is not a righteous deed either, so all you Pharisees can sit back down and lower that brow.  If you feel led or called to put forth monies to some worthy cause, that's great. Just be careful ... The main purpose of commonwealth was to LOVE and care for one another as family. It is best for one to sacrifice whatever they can to the Christian cause, but it may not be financial ... Some of your time, talent, devotion and love shared for the Christian cause would be deemed as putting your part into the commonwealth.

A few things to beware of when it comes to belonging to a commonwealth:

If you contribute more than someone else, you might feel entitled to more benefits of the commonwealth. My friend, this is not commonwealth at all. The whole IDEA is that ALL things are common. Don't forget the parable that Jesus told about the workers in Matthew 20:1-16. Now, don't get this wrong, because freeloading is not admired by anyone, but who is to say how much of a person's heart is given with the little that some have to contribute or how little of another person's heart is given with the abundance that they have to contribute? Let God be the judge of such things. Whenever you give from the goodness of your heart, you're really making a deposit into your Salvation account and your treasure is being saved up for you in Heaven.

There's a little story in the book of Acts that tells how a man and his wife took advantage of the commonwealth of the early Christians, and the consequences they faced for the error of their ways:

          Now, Peter, being clued in by the Holy Spirit as to the plot said, Ananias, why has satan controlled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and keep part of the price of the land for yourself? Before you sold it, wasn’t it your own? And after it was sold, wasn’t all the money yours? Why have you thought this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God. Peter was saying, it would have been better for Ananias to keep it all to himself and not be a part of the commonwealth, than to keep part and give part so that he could have more than the others. When Ananias heard these words, he fell down, and died. They wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

          It was about three hours later that Sapphira, not knowing what happened to Ananias, came in. Peter asked her, Tell me if you sold the land for this much (the amount that Ananias gave him)? And she said, Yes, for that much. Then Peter said to her, Why did you agree together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and will carry you out too. She fell down immediately at his feet and died, and they came in and carried her out, and buried her by her husband. Great fear came upon all the Church, and on anyone who heard these things.

So, as you can see, the Holy Spirit knows where your heart is and the sincerity of your generosity.

ALL THINGS COMMON TRUTH WITH ALL THINGS COMMON MESSAGE

Paul explained to the Corinthians about commonwealth:

In our modern society, we’ve forgotten about the principles of commonwealth that the children of Israel practiced when they were freed from Egypt (Exodus 16:18), and also the early Christians in Acts 4:32. People would find it very difficult today with all of their rights and selfishness to adapt to such a thing. What about when the End Times arrive? Christians won’t be able to buy or sell anything without the mark, because of antichrist so commonwealth among Christians may come into practice once again. It may be a good thing to think about, and ask ourselves how the Holy Spirit will feel about our attitude toward commonwealth if it ever becomes the only way that Christians can survive.