The Perfect Economic System

In Acts chapter four verse 32 the Bible records:

“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”

Surely this is Biblical evidence of a perfect economic system right? This verse is evidence to show that capitalism is wrong and it must be replaced by communism right?

Two things must be taken into account to answer these questions. That which was believed was the resurrection of the dead and salvation by Jesus Christ, and, those that believed held private property which, having been inspired by God, freely shared. The state did not mandate this practice of holding all things common, it was done freely.

It is when communism is forced that it must be opposed. It must be opposed because when it is declared among those holding private property that their belongings now belong to all, it is simply property theft. The Bible says, “Thou shalt not steal.” It also says in Proverbs 29:24 says “Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul…”

But why does it matter? It matters because if you don’t really own something, you can’t really give something. You can not be loving with your material things if such things don’t even belong to you. You have to express love in another way.

And, it is the cross of Jesus where this is the most important. We don’t know that Jesus had any earthly possessions. He gave his mother to a disciple declaring her to be his mother and him to be her son. Jesus had already given his body to die for the life of the world and he commended his spirit to his Father. He gave up everything.

And, he had no obligation to do so. These things were his and he still -gave- them. Were they not his he could not have given them. The gospel in a nutshell would be fundamentally altered. John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If God really didn’t have his Son, there would be no gift, there would be no love.

Love just can not be mandated. Man can not make himself loving towards his neighbor. We can be told to love and to give but it does not give us the power to do so. The inspiration of God, his love towards us, moves us to love others. Like a mirror reflecting a lamp, the mirror is not the lamp, but the mirror gives light from the source.

The perfect economic system is where Jesus gave all to gain all. That is what the Bible teaches. All other economic systems pale in comparison to the giving that God has done. John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”