大象传媒

Good morning.
You may have heard it said that if you want to know what your priorities are, you need look no further than your own bank statement.聽
Of course, for many of us, our expenditure is pretty non-negotiable: we may have rent to pay, or school uniforms to buy. We鈥檝e all got to eat and I know that if I fail to pay my Council Tax I could end up before a magistrate. But if you do have any spare money, you鈥檒l likely spend it on things that are important to you 鈥� going out with friends or on holiday with your family, supporting a charity whose work inspires you.聽
Today the Church celebrates the life of Saint Barnabas. Barnabas, whose name means 鈥楽on of Encouragement,鈥� lived among the earliest converts to Christianity in Jerusalem. We鈥檙e told that this whole group were of 鈥榦ne mind and soul鈥�, that they shared everything and kept nothing for back themselves. As a member of this group, Barnabas sold some of his own property and gave the money to the community.聽
We have a tendency to romanticise the early church - and it gives cynics like me some comfort to know that it wasn鈥檛 long before relationships became rather less harmonious. Yet, I fear we dismiss this 鈥榟oneymoon period鈥� in the Church鈥檚 life, rather too swiftly.聽
Jesus famously declared that 鈥淲herever your treasure is, there your heart will be also.鈥� When the early Christians began to share all they had, it was in the knowledge that mere human transactions could never match the significance of the grace already given them. 聽Their generosity was the natural consequence of the knowledge that they were rich indeed because of God鈥檚 love for them.聽
Father God, thank you for the gifts we have been given. Grant us wisdom to use them well and security in the knowledge of your love. Amen.聽