The word “economy” has its origin in a Greek word that means “to run a household”. In the New Testament it is translated “dispensation”, but a better translation is “stewardship”. During the journey of the Hebrew people through the wilderness after their escape from Egypt, the Lord supernaturally supplied them with “manna” which they gathered daily (except on the Sabbath).
Some gathered a lot and others a little, but when it was all brought together the amount gathered by each person was enough for all (Exodus 16:18).
The apostle Paul refers to this in Second Corinthians, chapter 8, when addressing freewill offerings by Christians. Those who could give only a little should not do so beyond their means, because those who could give more would make up for that. This is how the economy of a local church works.
In a time of need due to a sudden influx of new converts, Barnabas and others sold their properties and gave the proceeds to the apostles, who distributed it equitably. But deception muddied the waters when Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold their property, kept back half of the proceeds, and said they’d given all of it. Well, we know what happened to them (Acts 4:32-37 & 5:1-11).
Karl Marx, who was a Jew but an atheist, came up with the words, “From each according to his ability to each according to his need.” Maybe he had in mind the distribution of the manna back in the time of Moses. If so, it failed under communism, due to intrinsically corrupt human nature. Greed fosters hoarding and deception. The top men in the Kremlin lived well while tens of millions of their people starved to death.
The local church must lead the way in the equitable distribution of income from freewill offerings — as distinct from the long, drawn-out pleas and endless verbal browbeating by corporate churches for more and more money from their members). There is enough for all when each member freely gives according to his or her ability.
The same goes for spiritual gifts and talents. Whether exercised individually, or interactively, the Lord provides through them sufficiently for the needs of every church member. Communism never works because intrinsic human corruption always messes it up. Hierarchal religion does not work for the same reason.
Christian faith, however, is expressed in a heartfelt desire of a church body to provide for every member through Holy Spirit-guided caring and sharing — and it really does work.
So, when thinking of equitable distribution, we should think not of Ananias and Sapphira, who conspired to deceive, but rather of Barnabas and others who, when touched by the needs of many new converts, gave generously out of their personal conviction.
There’s enough for everyone in the economy of the local church, as long as hearts remain pure from the deadly twin sins of greed and deception. Too idealistic? Not in a church that follows the biblical pattern. Too challenging, more like it.