Antioch Series Part 5: Be Like Barnabas
At the core of Jesus’ invitation in the Gospels is the simple call to “follow Him” and the radical cost associated with that decision along with its immeasurable reward. In Mark chapter 10, a wealthy young man came to Jesus looking for a way into the inner circle. Here was a guy who was young, wealthy, intelligent, and influential. Think of all that this guy, with this kind of wealth and influence, could accomplish for the kingdom! He had a clean record and a good reputation. Not only that, but he was ready to go! Jesus, make it easy for this guy, don’t scare him away! We could really use a guy like this. If we can get him saved, then he can start sharing his testimony among the other wealthy and affluent citizens, maybe even write a book, and do some fundraising for the cause.
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. - Mark 10:21-22
Yet he lacked one thing. The bible says when Jesus looked at him, He loved him. He knew that this guy was coming to Jesus, not for Jesus Himself, but for what being on Jesus’ leadership could provide for him. It would fulfill his aspirations for visibility, position, and influence. Jesus peered into his soul and saw that all of his wealth and affluence had cemented around his heart like a burial vault. His possessions had so possessed him that he could never see Jesus as supremely valuable and worthy. All that he owned, owned him. Something radical had to be done and quick! In the next few verses, Jesus is fighting for this man’s life and destiny. Jesus was not trying to strip this man of all his joy and pleasure. He was fighting for his greatness and for reward that would last forever!
Money and possessions are not inherently evil, but according to the Bible, if not handled with trepidatious caution, they can cost you your destiny, and the love of them can cost you your life. This young man walked away from an opportunity of a lifetime because it didn’t look like the opportunity he expected. He forfeited his soul to keep the life he had. He lost eternal reward for the perceived security of wealth. He could have been on the apostolic leadership team of Jesus. He could have had his name written on the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:14)!
Instead, he walked away. Never to be heard from again.
There was another wealthy man who, in the grace of God, responded quite differently to the invitation from Jesus. Luke, the historian and writer of the Book of Acts, introduces us to him in Acts chapter 4 as Joseph: a wealthy man from Cyprus who owned land and was an affluent citizen in Jerusalem. He had a reputation for being joyful and full of grace. So much so that the Apostles had nicknamed him “son of encouragement”… Barnabas. He wasn’t an irresponsible young person being swept up into a fad or a trend. He was the owner of property, from a prestigious family line and had done quite well for himself. But all that he had gained, he counted as loss for the sake of Christ (Phil 3:7). He was being radically transformed by grace, from the inside out, into a heavenly minded man, useful for the kingdom. He shines as one of the most mature, reliable, lovable leaders of the early church.
Acts 4 is a snapshot of a community of people whose hearts and lives have been utterly revolutionized by believing in Jesus. They found themselves freely caring about people and freely selling land and houses, giving the money to the church for distribution to those with specific needs. Luke attributes this to the great grace that was upon them all. When grace moved, all of a sudden, people started falling out of love with “things” and started falling in love with the Lord and with His people. They had found something of more value than houses and comfort and possessions. They were transitioning from their “ownership” mindset to “stewardship” when it came to their possessions. They were becoming disciples of Jesus. Heavenly people.
There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. - Acts 4:34-37
Luke zooms in on two people in Acts 4-5 that are meant to complement and contradict what was going on in the community there in Jerusalem. In Acts 4:36–37, Luke shows us how Barnabas’ trusted ministry began—it began with a demonstrated freedom from the love of things and a heart of love for people. He sold a field that belonged to him and gave all the proceeds to the apostles to use for the movement. In this story, he stands as the example of what the grace of God and the spirit of revival does in the human heart. It creates a bond of love for people and cuts a bond of love for money and possessions. These three things were distinguishing marks on Barnabas’ life.
Love for people.
Radical generosity.
Great joy.
He was a Levite, well acquainted with Levitical law. He knew how much the law required him to give off of the sale of his property, but grace compelled him to do so much more. Barnabas in this one act gives us a glimpse into “New Covenant” giving. Old Testament law required a 10% (+) tithe. The New Testament writers never give a number or a percentage as a law for giving because giving was meant to be the overflow of joy and love by a heart struck by the worth of the Lamb. Instead, the apostles write about men like Barnabas and others…
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints-- - 2 Corinthians 8:1-4
Do you see that? The grace of God was producing a wealth of generosity even in their severe affliction and extreme poverty. Old testament giving was a percentage required; New Testament giving is Barnabas. Barnabas found a greater joy in his life than having affluence and a greater possession than wealth. He found a treasure hidden in a field and in his joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field (Matt 13:44). He laid down his field at the apostles’ feet and picked up a mantle for a greater field called the nations of the earth. He sold his little field, and he gained an apostolic assignment.
Radical generosity changes history and unlocks destiny.
Immediately after our introduction to this man, Luke juxtaposes Barnabas with another man. A man named Ananias who also sold a field.
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. - Acts 5:1-2
What was wrong with Ananias and Sapphira? They loved their money. They made the sale, they looked at all that cash, and they couldn't bear the thought of giving it all away. So they kept some back (v. 2). They wanted to look more generous than they really were. They wanted the apostles to think that they were like Barnabas perhaps. They wanted external religious approval. They not only loved money, they loved the praise of men—the two almost always go together (Luke 16:14–15). They lied to cover their covetousness. They wanted the admiration that came with generosity but not the cost. They were like the rich young ruler in thinking if they checked off on external religious law, they could inherit the kingdom.
God struck them dead.
They were struck dead at the altar so that all the church would know this one thing. The love of money and the love of the praise of men will kill you. In the infancy of the movement, God had to make this abundantly clear to all the Church. He was not pouring out His grace in vain, calling out a people to Himself just to have another version of the Pharisees, who loved money (Luke 16:14) and loved the best seats in the house (Luke 11:43). No.
Barnabas shows up next in Acts 9 about six years later. At this point, Saul has had his conversion experience and spent a few years in the wilderness before coming up to Jerusalem to try and join the apostolic leadership team. Everyone was afraid of this young “convert” and no one wanted to associate with him. But one man, full of love, grace and joy took Paul by the hand and marched him right up into Peter and James’ office and said, “You gotta hear this young man’s story.” Barnabas believed in Paul and his calling when no one else would. He saw this diamond in the rough and was determined to put his arms around him and make sure he was successful. He was a true spiritual Father.
When Barnabas saw what was happening in Antioch, he knew that it was the perfect place for the young Paul to cut his teeth in ministry and leadership. Only one problem: he hadn’t seen Paul in a few years and heard that he had returned home to pursue a different path for his life. Barnabas believed in Paul’s calling even when Paul didn’t have the courage to believe in it himself.
I often say that Acts 11:25 is one verse that changed all of history,
“So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch…” – Acts 11:25
Barnabas goes and searches for this young man and finds him living back home in Tarsus. Paul was resigning from his calling because of hope differed, disappointment, and wounds from leaders.
Imagine the conversation.
After he returns from Tarsus with Paul, it says they spent a whole year teaching a great many people (Acts 11:26). Barnabas returns to Antioch as an Apostolic leader to care for this young revival community and nurture it into maturity while mentoring Paul in Antioch. The community starts to reflect this DNA: radical generosity and love for people under the leadership of Barnabas. Two verses later, an offering is being taken up to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. This was no small love gift. Everyone in the church of Antioch pitched in. In fact it says that everyone according to their ability or NASB says it this way; they determined to send a contribution according to each of their means.
Sound familiar? Love for people and radical generosity with joy!
A year or two later, Barnabas and his young companion, Paul, will be launched out of Antioch as the first Apostolic missions team. The result will be revival communities all across Asia minor. They will emerge as arguably the most important catalytic leadership teams in the rapid expansion of the church in the first century.
All because he sold a field.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:7-9
You may be asking, “well what does that have to do with me?!?” Let me tell you.
You are reaping what you sowed five to ten years ago. What you do today is setting the stage for what you will walk in, five and ten years from now. If you live above the “poverty line” in America, you are in the top 2% of the wealthiest people in the world. If you live on or above the median income level in the United States, you are in the top 1%. You may have more in common with the rich young ruler than you think. You may be in more danger of following the road of Ananias and Sapphira than you realize.
“We have grown up in a dangerous redefinition of Christianity. One that takes the Jesus of the Bible and twists him into a version of Jesus we are more comfortable with. A nice, middle-class, American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn’t mind materialism and who would never call us to give away everything we have. A Jesus who would not expect us to forsake our closest relationships so that he receives all of our affection. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion (as long as we are being responsible and treating people ok). A Jesus who wants us to be balanced, who wants us to avoid dangerous extremes, and who, for that matter wants us to avoid danger all together. He does not infringe on our comforts, but wants us to have bigger, better and more as we live out our Christian spin on the American Dream. If that’s the Jesus we worship, we might be in danger of not worshipping the Jesus of the Bible but the ourselves.” – David Platt
Christ is fighting for our greatness! Not only in this age but in the age to come. He is gently but firmly leading us away from that which will kill us. He is calling us out of the fortified cities of our wealth and ways of life so we can be useful to Him in the kingdom.
Apostolic centers are always deeply marked by the lives of fathers and mothers like Barnabas who long ago “sold their field” to be a part of what God was doing on the earth. They have been radically transformed by grace. They have seen Jesus as supremely worthy, and they have responded with all their hearts. I believe that they are beginning to be gathered to the Antioch Sending Centers for such a time as this. These companies of people will be comprised of those that God has gathered, marked with love, grace and joy, and they will become the safe place for a new generation of leaders and laborers to be formed and fashioned without the fear of over-correction, manipulation, or punishment. Their history in God, lives of faith, and obedience over the last decades are giving permission for another generation to go hard after God no matter what the cost.
If Jesus is calling you to follow him, don’t be like the rich young ruler. If you are experiencing the blessing of God on your labor and abundance in your resources, don’t be like Ananias.
Be like Barnabas.
