The Best - Bring Your Best

This is the week. I trust that you have sought God’s face and His heart as we prepare for Bring Your Best Sunday this Sunday. Our goal is simple: The best we have to offer is what we bring. It’s not too hard to see from where the name for Sunday came.

The Bible is full of examples of men and women who held nothing back from God and brought their best to Him. From Abel to Abraham, David to the widow, we see time and time again how God uses our gifts for His glory and honor. One of these narratives that stands out to me is in Acts 4:36-37. There we find two short verses about a man named Joseph who sells a field and brings the money from the sale to the Apostles. I do not want anyone to think that I am suggesting that you have to go and sell property to bring your best. However, I do want you to consider a couple of things about Joseph and his gift:

1. Joseph was moved by ministry. In the verses prior to v. 36, Luke describes how the Gospel ministry in Jerusalem was a system of supporting one another and meeting each other’s needs. People sold belongings to pour into God’s work. People contributed abundantly to the ministry of the church. Here is where we learn a very important principle about how and why God blesses us and when God blesses us: The blessing is to be used for His glory and not our own. These men and women had a different perspective of why God had provided for their needs in the way that He had, so they chose to sacrifice in order to give back in support of the local church ministry. Joseph saw this and knew that God had led him to follow suit. He was moved by the moving of the Spirit of God in others. The way that you and I respond to the leading of the Holy Sprit can and will draw others to follow our example.
2. Joseph used what he had. It does not give much detail about Joseph except that he saw the ministry of the Gospel in his local congregation, that he was a Levite, and he took what was rightfully his to use for the Kingdom. We cannot determine from this passage whether or not he had prime real estate or a backwoods swamp. What we can see is that Joseph knew that what he had was not for his own benefit, but for the benefit of others through God’s Kingdom work.
3. Joseph did not hold back. See very clearly that it says in this passage that when he sold the land, he went directly to the apostles with the money and contributed it to the ministry of the local church. Here is another example of bringing the best, using the first fruits, and not waiting until everything else is settled. When you and I seek God’s face to bring our best, there will be many ways that Satan tries to get us to hold back. Sometimes it is hard to let go of what we have. That is fear. Fear gets in the way of our pure service to God. However, Joseph did not hold back. He went straight to the disciples and gave it all. Others did not. They lied about it and faced the wrath of God (Acts 5:1-11).
4. Joseph gave his true best. This has little to do with the money from the sale and everything to do with Joseph. Verse 36 says that the apostles also called Joseph by the name of “Barnabas”. Barnabas saw the work of the Gospel, gave to support the ministry, and then became the feet of ministry. We see Barnabas as Paul’s travel companion, specifically set apart at Antioch by the Lord to go with Paul (Acts 13.1-3). This is a major point in this preparation to Bring Your Best on Sunday. We know God will supply through the people of FBC Fairburn every financial need that our church has. We are raising the challenge to everyone to determine by the direction of God what financial gift they will bring. But, do you draw the line at money? What if God wants more? What if God is asking for all of you? Bring your best. Bring yourself. God will take care of the rest. Bring yourself.

I want to encourage each of you as you pray even now for God’s direction. What will you give? Is it your best? Did God lead you to it? Will you give yourself? Bring a friend Sunday as we see the overflow of God’s mercy on us and worship with me as we celebrate God’s hand of provision. I love you all.