Surprising Generosity

Scripture Verses that Caught my attention today: Acts 11:27-30 At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. 29 The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; 30 this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Observation: Famine over all the world? Over the ‘world’ they knew? What was the timing? Did they send relief ahead of the famine? Interesting that, though presumably they would have their own share in the famine, they still sent relief elsewhere.

Application: As noted above, some questions do come to mind in regard to this passage. These days it seems that famines tend be confined to certain areas of the world which, of course, vary over time. When it’s dry in one place, it’s usually wet somewhere else. In those days, of course, the world of which they were aware was considerably smaller. This was centuries before America was ‘discovered,’ and much of the rest of the world we know as well. So maybe it was a relatively local famine.

Whatever. Of more interest and potential importance is the implication that perhaps they sent the relief ahead of time. That’s faith! If Agabus showed up today and said such things, we’d probably think he had some emotional and mental ‘issues’ that should be dealt with long before we’d consider taking up a collection to help people endure a weather pattern that had yet to occur.

No matter. The real point is not so much what they did, but their willingness to do it at the expense of themselves. Surely they would experience famine too. Wouldn’t they need some of their supplies? Apparently not as much as the folks in Judea.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for the examples of generous witnesses. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scripture Readings today included: Job 5, Psalm 108, Acts 10-11)