June 19 Nehemiah 12-13 Acts 4:23-37 Barnabas the Giver

Barnabas the Giver

Nehemiah 12-13 Acts 4:23-37 

36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

The Bible goes into detail about Barnabas in verse 36.  His original name was Joses, but was renamed as Barnabas.  His new name means, the son of consolation.  I can only imagine that Barnabas was a listener and helped to console people.  He was a Levite and from the country of Cyprus.  So this was Barnabas, a friend to a person in need.

But not only did Barnabas give of his time, but he gave of his possessions.  The next verse said that he had land which he sold and brought the money to the apostles as a gift to the new church.  Imagine, this could have been the very first property of the first church.  And Barnabas humbly gave to the Lord because it says he laid the money at the apostles feet.  A sign of a gift, not of a loan.

Wow, what a giver.  I pray that I can give as God would want me to give whether it's time or money.  Either way it all belongs to God anyway.