Determined to send relief

“Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” - Act 11v29-30

This might seem like the perfect time to get into a discussion about spiritual gifts such as prophecy. After all, a prophet named Agabus foretold that a famine was coming to the whole land – and it happened! Sorry to disappoint, but we will leave that, perhaps for another time and place.

What I do want to note here is the response of the believers. Though the famine was through the whole land, the believers did more than just add the church in Judea to their Wednesday night prayer list. As they had the means they each contributed to a relief fund and sent the money with Paul and Barnabas. There is a lot we cold talk about here, such as the fact that the money was sent to the pastors for distribution, but the key point is that when a need arose something tangible was done about it. It wasn’t just a prayer and pat on the back, but money was raised to help out another part of the body of Christ.

I wonder how often we know of a need and placate our consciences with a quick word of prayer?