Early believers didn't have jobs

Joined2krist said:

Acts 4:33-36, states that they sold their possessions and properties to feed and clothe themselves, why were they not encouraged to find jobs?

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They were living in a community; sharing everything with each other.

Paul was a tentmaker.

Butterball1 said:

I'm still not certain of the connection you are trying to make between Daniel's prophecy and what I posted. Paul required one to work in order to eat. For man to work has been in God's plan from the beginning. In the garden of Eden, Adam & Eve were told 'tend and keep' the garden (Genesis 2:15) where it would not degenerate but continue to be productive. After being cast out of the garden they were to work by the sweat of their face for bread/food, (Genesis 3:19).

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My point is, when Israel fell sometime into the middle of Acts. Daniel's 70th week was postponed indefinitely in the future.

Hence, the practice in Acts 4:32, communism, was no longer God's commandment. Paul made sure of that by writing what you quoted from 2 Thess.

Guojing said:

My point is, when Israel fell sometime into the middle of Acts. Daniel's 70th week was postponed indefinitely in the future.

Hence, the practice in Acts 4:32, communism, was no longer God's commandment. Paul made sure of that by writing what you quoted from 2 Thess.

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Acts 4:32 is not advocating communism/socialism. There is no forced, compulsory redistribution of wealth being taught.

"Luke observed the gracious disposition of these early disciples. This vast multitude was of one heart and soul. Their common interest in the gospel overshadowed their diversity. The Lord’s resurrection convicted them to act with loving concern for their brethren (v. 33).

The selling of property was not obligatory. The examples of Barnabas and Ananias demonstrate the voluntary nature of this method of benevolence. Peter told Ananias, “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?” (Acts 5:4). It is apparent that not all Christians were dispossessed of their property, for the disciples were later meeting in the house of Mary, Mark’s mother, in Acts 12:12.

Not everyone received a distribution of what was laid at the apostles’ feet. “It was distributed to each as any had need” (Acts 4:35). J.W. McGarvey observed, “The fact that distribution was made to each as he had need, shows that it was only the needy who received any thing, and that there was no equalization of property” (Original Commentary on Acts, Bowling Green: Guardian of Truth, N.d., p. 67).

The church is not a communal society. Gareth Reese concludes appropriately, “Now both communism and fellowship (koinonia) have a root idea of ‘common.’ But after that, the two ideas go their separate ways. Communism says, ‘What is yours is mine, and I’ll take it!’ Fellowship says, ‘What is mine is yours; I’ll share it!’ The one forcibly invades the right of private property; the other voluntarily relinquishes the right of private property where it sees a need” (New Testament History: Acts, Joplin: College Press, 1976, p. 193)."
Should Christians Have All Things in Common?

Butterball1 said:

Acts 4:32 is not advocating communism/socialism. There is no forced, compulsory redistribution of wealth being taught.

"Luke observed the gracious disposition of these early disciples. This vast multitude was of one heart and soul. Their common interest in the gospel overshadowed their diversity. The Lord’s resurrection convicted them to act with loving concern for their brethren (v. 33).

The selling of property was not obligatory. The examples of Barnabas and Ananias demonstrate the voluntary nature of this method of benevolence. Peter told Ananias, “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?” (Acts 5:4). It is apparent that not all Christians were dispossessed of their property, for the disciples were later meeting in the house of Mary, Mark’s mother, in Acts 12:12.

Not everyone received a distribution of what was laid at the apostles’ feet. “It was distributed to each as any had need” (Acts 4:35). J.W. McGarvey observed, “The fact that distribution was made to each as he had need, shows that it was only the needy who received any thing, and that there was no equalization of property” (Original Commentary on Acts, Bowling Green: Guardian of Truth, N.d., p. 67).

The church is not a communal society. Gareth Reese concludes appropriately, “Now both communism and fellowship (koinonia) have a root idea of ‘common.’ But after that, the two ideas go their separate ways. Communism says, ‘What is yours is mine, and I’ll take it!’ Fellowship says, ‘What is mine is yours; I’ll share it!’ The one forcibly invades the right of private property; the other voluntarily relinquishes the right of private property where it sees a need” (New Testament History: Acts, Joplin: College Press, 1976, p. 193)."
Should Christians Have All Things in Common?

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Jesus told them when he was still alive in Luke 12:33

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.”

So they were practicing exactly what Jesus taught them while he was still alive. You remember the final verse of Matthew?

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Guojing said:

Jesus told them when he was still alive in Luke 12:33

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.”

So they were practicing exactly what Jesus taught them while he was still alive. You remember the final verse of Matthew?

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

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Luke 12:33 is not communism for it was already shown distribution of personal goods was not compulsory. Compared with Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus was not teaching wealth redistribution but the way to build wealth that matters (treasure in heaven) is for one to use wealth he has for good purposes. Not to be coveteous with wealth as the man described in Luke 12:16-21.
Luke 18:22 some will allow their possessions stand in the way of following Christ and from building wealth in heaven, hence Christ words of Luke 12:33 are not made to all Christians of all time but those who are allowing their wealth prevent them from building wealth in heaven. Luke 19:2 Zacchaeus was rich but Christ did not tell him to "sell all thy hast" as was the rich man told in Luke 18:22. So Christ is not saying Christians should lead a life of poverty for poverty itself does not guarantee wealth in heaven but is teaching how to gather the only wealth that matters and lasts forever.

Butterball1 said:

Luke 12:33 is not communism for it was already shown distribution of personal goods was not compulsory. Compared with Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus was not teaching wealth redistribution but the way to build wealth that matters (treasure in heaven) is for one to use wealth he has for good purposes. Not to be coveteous with wealth as the man described in Luke 12:16-21. Luke 18:22 some will allow their possessions stand in the way of following Christ and from building wealth in heaven, hence Christ words of Luke 12:33 are not made to all Christians of all time but those who are allowing their wealth prevent them from building wealth in heaven. Luke 19:2 Zacchaeus was rich but Christ did not tell him to "sell all thy hast" as was the rich man told in Luke 18:22. So Christ is not saying Christians should lead a life of poverty for poverty itself does not guarantee wealth in heaven but is teaching how to gather the only wealth that matters and lasts forever.

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When Jesus commanded the little flock to sell all they have and give alms in Luke 12:33, you think he was joking?

Guojing said:

When Jesus commanded the little flock to sell all they have and give alms in Luke 12:33, you think he was joking?

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You are reading something into Jesus words that is not there. Jesus is not making poverty among Christian complusory but teaching how to use wealth to build wealth in heaven. Where did Jesus tell Zacchaeus to sell all of his possessions as told the man in Luke 18:22? Why would Christians be deprived of wealth when great men of God as Job, Abraham, David were not commanded to live in poverty. Acts 12:12 they maintained possession of property.

Butterball1 said:

You are reading something into Jesus words that is not there. Jesus is not making poverty among Christian complusory but teaching how to use wealth to build wealth in heaven. Where did Jesus tell Zacchaeus to sell all of his possessions as told the man in Luke 18:22? Why would Christians be deprived of wealth when great men of God as Job, Abraham, David were not commanded to live in poverty. Acts 12:12 they maintained possession of property.

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The literal meaning of the words sell that ye have seems clear to me, without having to read into them.

As I have earlier said, they were expecting the Tribulation to come soon, as Peter declared in Acts 2:17-21. The cross was supposed to be Daniel 69th week.

So the best way to avoid temptation to take the mark of the beast, is to make sure you have as little private possessions as possible.

Joined2krist said:

Acts 4:33-36, states that they sold their possessions and properties to feed and clothe themselves, why were they not encouraged to find jobs?

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Could it be that they expected the Lord to return very soon? As time went by they needed to take up work again. Just my thoughts.

Joined2krist said:

You have a good point, they may have lived like that in anticipation of his second coming especially after Christ's message in Matthew 24

However, Jesus himself lived that way. There were women in his ministry who sold their possessions to fund it. He also taught people to not acquire material possessions but to sell them off and distribute to the poor. Perhaps, his ideal model of a Christian society was one where material wealth was evenly distributed among all, with none being richer than the other. He also taught people the secret of multiplication in the Kingdom of God, which was to 'give'.

If people sold off what they owned and gave to others, it might be the secret to financial multiplication (God's way), Luke 6:38,

(New International Version)
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

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I come to think of Cyprian of Carthage. He grew up in a rich family. He sold his inheritance and gave the money to the poor. I like to see that happen among us Christians today.