The great depression is said to have been the longest and deepest economic downturn in the history of the United States. It lasted more than a decade with families literally living on next to nothing. My parents were born in the early 20’s and would share at times the hardships of the depression. Mother would describe how living on a farm was a blessing at the time because they at least had food, shelter, and the basics for life. Clothing made out of flour sacks and rags tied around shoes in the winter were common, it was very hard on families during this time. She spoke of many living in utter poverty and how difficult it was for her father to maintain some kind of income. One story she told was about her father working for the WPA, (Works Progress Administration), a government work relief program to make ends meet. Those times were hard and living without was the norm, people went without food, decent clothing, and shelter for many years. Government agencies, communities, and religious organizations found ways to help with whatever resources they could garner together at the time.
Thinking back about my parents’ upbringing during the depression era reminded me of something the early church experienced concerning a famine. In Acts 11:27-30 we read a short commentary about a famine and how believers responded. It is unclear which famine is being referenced because apparently there were several that were spread across the known Roman world at the time. One thing is clear, Paul was determined to collect relief for “brothers living in Judea”, and that “everyone according to his ability” would participate, “to send relief”. Let’s take into consideration what occurred during this time of crisis by reading a few passages of Scripture, then we will think though some application.
Acts 11:27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
In 1 Corinthians 16 Paul is apparently addressing the famine spoken of in Acts 11, and the desire to send relief by taking up a collection for the church, or churches in Jerusalem. “And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul” Acts 11:30. This was a “great famine over all the world”, as in the known world at that time. As a side note, it is interesting that the relief was sent to the church leaders, “the elders”, by the hand of the missionaries to be distributed.
Again in 2 Corinthians 8 Paul is encouraging giving toward those who are experiencing “a severe test of affliction”, who are in “extreme poverty”, urging them to take “part in the relief of the saints”. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
In Romans 15 Paul is writing about “going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints,” and that believers have made “some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem”. He speaks of spiritual and material blessings being shared 15:27, and how he will “have delivered to them what has been collected,” and then he will come back to them delivering “the fullness of the blessing of Christ”, asking them to “strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,” and “that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints”. Paul is asking God’s people to partner with him to serve the local church during this time.
When a severe famine was a threat and hit certain areas of the known world especially hard, the church gave to relieve the severity. Brothers banded with brothers in this effort. God in his grace used the famine to help the church learn to serve one another and to grow together. The “how to do” and the “what to do” of providing relief is clear as we work through these passages. What we see in these passages is a canvas. We will call the canvas God’s world, the background of the painting is the circumstances, “a great famine over all the world”. Then we see the breathtaking foreground of the painting standing out, it makes the background secondary, almost obscure, it captures the story line. The foreground is God’s people serving during a crisis, standing out from the bleak background, demonstrating God’s provision. God is painting on His canvas the body of Christ at work standing out of that bleak background, serving the needs of those suffering. The background of the painting is not the focus, the background is only a backdrop to showcase the beauty of the body of Christ. Think about it like this. A picture of our loved one standing in the most beautiful of settings, but even in this setting, the background is not the focus, it is the loved one, the background is secondary.
But there is more, what I thought about next is perhaps what you may have been thinking about lately as well. Just what did Paul explain to the church as a means to make it through those times spiritually? We get the canvas part, the famine part, the church in the foreground part, but how did Paul tell these folks who were living during that time to deal with the worldwide famine spiritually? There are words of encouragement sprinkled within these passages, but I think there is more to consider.
Paul wrote to the church with encouragement and instruction within the body of these epistles or letters. What is important for us to consider is that the story line is cast within the theology of these letters, the theology as well as the practical living out of that theology is what makes up the whole of these epistles. Paul didn’t necessarily have to explain in detail how the church would make it through these times, the theology of the letter would deal with how to view the times they were living in and how to live in them. We could call this a theological understanding of the times and how they were to live life during those days. What I am saying is that the theology of the letter is a source of how they would deal with the famine, tough times, difficulties, or what have you, because it teaches the readers how to view hard times. What they were experiencing would be laid up against what they learned and would believe, so that they would know how to respond spiritually to any difficulty. Not just hard times, but any time.
And so, it should be with us, and even much more so since we have at this time a completed canon of Scripture. We should get our spiritual feet planted first by drawing our strength and understanding of circumstances from our theology. What sweet relief it is to have the truth of God’s Word as a place of comfort and understanding. The people in our world need to sense this and see this in our lives. The world sees everything horizontally; they are intimidated, in fear, without hope in this present world. We as believers see the world much differently. We are alert to dire circumstances of life, and there is cause for deep caution and concern as we look at the world around us. But we are not focused on the background of the canvas; we are focused on the One who has painted on the canvas. This is God’s world, and one of my favorite verses explains it all. Psalm 115:3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Most interestingly during the famine there was an “overflowing in many thanksgivings to God”, but for what reason? Because God allowed the circumstance, and once again proved that in His world, in whatever circumstances, He is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving.
Our Great God is moving His brush across the canvas as He pleases, and is always, always, painting His people in the foreground because they are the very instruments of His glory; they are the ones who are “overflowing in many thanksgivings to God” even in the worst of conditions. Proving to the world that there is hope, hope in God who is the Creator God of the world they live in. Not only that, but famines, pestilence, disease, and illness, can and will be used for His glory. John 11:4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” God’s glory, His Word, His people, all work in harmony to demonstrate on God’s canvas His wonderful works among the children of men. Psalm 107:21,22 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! The world is alone in their suffering without Christ, this is where the real suffering occurs, living without God in this present World. Man’s loneliness without God, without hope, with fear and sorrow. How lonely is the one without Christ!
Believers live with hope regardless of the circumstances we face in life because we are in fellowship with our Creator God. We also live in fellowship with other believers, those who like the saints we read about are there to help us through tough times. It is amazing but definitely not uncommon for God to use His people to provide relief for those in need. The church was used as an instrument to show God’s mercy and care for all the saints during the famine. God uses the church to show mercy, care, and love during hard times. No doubt the people who were hurting economically were also hurting spiritually. The church would be the instrument God used to show mercy and care for both. The believer is never left alone to suffer, we suffer together in the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. We suffer with those who suffer, and we provide comfort and care that only God can provide through us as an instrument for His glory. We share our resources physically and then spiritually. We lift up the down cast with God’s Word, and we model our theology practically for others to gain strength and to follow during hard times. This is where you should live out your theology my friend. You should reach out to those in need and serve them both physically and spiritually. You should be putting handles on your theology so that your theology can be lived out practically. Is God using you like this for His glory, have you thought about that before?
Remember Christian, no matter how you suffer, our God knows and cares for you and He will use others to comfort and care for you. Turn to God in prayer and then turn to others to pray with you and share your burden. Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Resist suffering alone, don’t attempt to go it alone, don’t allow pride to keep you from turning to others. Some count this as weakness but it most certainly is not, God’s Word is telling us to share our burdens. The body of Christ is built to be interdependent not independent. It may be economic hard times for you, share your needs. It may be very hard on you spiritually at times, share it with the body of Christ. Don’t wait until you come to wits end, don’t go it alone, the body of Christ will be used to help you and bring God glory.
Remember that all we experience in life is for His glory, to show the world that He is to be glorified, and to give reason for saints who are suffering and those who are helping to bring glory to God. It was a beautiful thing to read how the church rallied around those in need, let’s look for opportunities within the body of Christ to do the same. Let’s put handles on our theology and work it out practically to serve others.