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Introduction
What would happen if Christians stopped seeing themselves as owners of their resources and began seeing themselves as stewards of what God has entrusted to them?
Preaching at ICGC Christ Temple East, Teshie-Accra, on Sunday, 13 September 2026, Pastor Mensa Otabil, Founder and General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), challenged believers to rethink possessions, generosity and the financial responsibility of the Christian community.
In Part Five of his “The 2:42 Church” series, titled “The Barnabas Model,” Pastor Otabil drew lessons from Acts 4:34–37, where Barnabas and other believers used their resources to ensure that no one among them was reduced to begging for survival.
A Church Where No One Had to Beg
Pastor Otabil highlighted one remarkable description of the early church: “Nor was there anyone among them who lacked.”
He explained that this did not mean every believer had everything they desired. Rather, no member was so deprived that begging became necessary for survival.
“Nobody is reduced to the point where begging becomes their means of survival.”
The reason was equally significant: believers with substantial property willingly released resources to meet needs within the Christian community.
Wealth Must Serve God’s Mission
Pastor Otabil stressed that Acts 4 specifically highlights believers who were “possessors of lands or houses”—people whose basic needs had been met and who possessed resources beyond what they needed.
Instead of using wealth to display status, control others or purchase influence, these believers allowed their resources to serve the entire community.
“The whole temptation to want to maintain power based on your financial strength is a very deep temptation.”
Their generosity was therefore more than giving money. It revealed a transformed understanding of wealth.
Sell It, Release It, Let It Go
One striking feature of the passage was that the believers did not merely give their properties; they sold them and brought the proceeds.
Pastor Otabil interpreted this as a deliberate relinquishing of ownership and emotional attachment.
“What these people are doing is cutting the emotional connection to the assets they have.”
True Christian giving, therefore, requires the heart to release what the hand has given.
Giving Requires Institutional Accountability
The proceeds were then “laid at the apostles’ feet.” Pastor Otabil explained that this did not literally mean placing money beneath their feet. It meant bringing the resources under the apostles’ stewardship.
“We’re not transferring assets from members to a pastor, but to a corporate system.”
He emphasised that Christian giving should involve responsible systems, institutional accountability and distribution that benefits the wider body.
Barnabas: The Model of Christian Stewardship
Barnabas became the outstanding example. Although a Levite—part of the group that traditionally received offerings under the Old Testament system—he became a giver in the New Testament church.
His example demonstrated generosity, submission to the church’s system and confidence in accountable leadership.
Pastor Otabil declared:
“The Christian community is designed to be a self-financing community.”
Conclusion: God Is Looking for Barnabases
The message ultimately presented Barnabas as more than a generous believer. He represented a radically Christ-centred attitude towards possessions.
If believers who possess significant resources embrace stewardship rather than absolute ownership, Pastor Otabil argued, churches can finance their mission, care for vulnerable members and meet genuine needs without becoming dependent on outsiders.
His closing prayer captured the challenge: “May the Lord raise up willing Barnabases who see the work of God beyond just the possession.”
The Barnabas Model asks every Christian a searching question: Do I merely possess what God has given me, or am I willing to steward it for His purposes?
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