There are certain features that we’ve come to expect from a healthy church, but this one might surprise you. In Acts 4:33-34, the writer Luke says, “And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.”

 

There were no needy people in the church. That was an indicator of deep faith for these people. Could you imagine the witness this would have, if our world saw that church’s take care of their people to the point that there is no one in need?

 

I heard a story of how a woman checking out a church for the first time had her car break down on the drive in. During the service the church took it upon themselves to help her, they sent an offering plate around and raised enough for this lady to buy a new motor. What an introduction to church! 

 

I wonder what would happen if we championed the church’s mission of taking care of one another more than the capitalist mission of getting ahead for yourself. Perhaps we would see no needy people among us.