Together & In Common

I am reading through Acts currently in my devotions. These few verses have never failed to capture my imagination over the last few years:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:42-47 TNIV).

My attention is often drawn to verses 44 & 45, perhaps because this describes something so unlike my experience of faith: "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need." It seems like an unattainable ideal, at least here in the first world, where I am largely defined by my possessions and my spirituality is so personalized. I am not sure my charitable giving is quite the same thing, although I know that it certainly helps!

My thinking ran along different lines this morning and I want to write about it before it grows obscure. They met in each other's homes for worship and meals. I wonder if, perhaps, this might have been one of the defining experiences in their generous lifestyles? You would really get to know each other that way… A person going through a crisis would not become a "client" or a "project"… Promoting a friend's wholeness and well-being would be natural under these circumstances… This all seems very different from the way "church" usually conducts its "mission."

As you can see, my thoughts are far from complete at this point. Do you have any insight into this?