Wwjd? Does It Still Matter?
Scripture Reading — Acts 4:32-37
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:4
What a rare community Acts 4 describes! No needy people, no beggars, no worried widows. In fact, the Bible says, "There were no needy persons among them."
Yesterday we gathered together as the community of God to worship him. Today we must be the community of God as we live for him. What a privilege!
But we may begin to think, "Let's not get carried away." After all, we have to take care of our own business, right?
Let's be frank with one another. Selfishness has a way of infecting us. It accounts for much of what we say and do. But the cure to selfishness is to have the mind of Christ.
A few years ago it was popular to wear bracelets with the initials WWJD-"What Would Jesus Do?" Will you give a few groceries for a canned food drive in your neighborhood? Can you help send a medical team from your area to assist people more needy than you are? Will you watch, without charge, the children of the struggling young couple that really needs a little time away?
What would it be like if our communities began to resemble a little more the one described for us in Acts 4? Let's search hard for answers, and "let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).
Holy Spirit, give us eyes to see, willing hands, and compassionate hearts so that our communities may reflect the heart of Christ. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
About the author — John Van Schepen
Dr. John Van Schepen is a retired pastor who served churches in Washington, Wisconsin, Indiana, Oregon and California. He and his wife, Willie, have been blessed with five children and several grandchildren.
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