Notice it says "from time to time". It is not a command that this is how we should behave always. Just because some people sold their possession and gave the money to the apostles, it does not mean we ought to do the same right now.
If we dig deeper in the Bible we could find God's people doing all sorts of things good and even bad. Often, good behaviour is a good example for us to follow, and bad behaviour, even committed by God's people, is definitely something for us to learn from and not follow. Like King David's adultery with Bathsheba, or the murder Moses committed. We need to be tuned into God to give us wisdom in discerning what is a Biblical description, and what is a prescription for us to follow today.
So what does the Bible say about sharing?
In 2nd Corinthians 8, Paul encourages the Corinthian church to give financially to the ministry. Paul gave the Corinthians an example in how the Macedonian churches were very generous, in hope that this will inspire them to be generous as well. He wrote the Macedonian churches urgently pleaded with them for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s People. Paul encouraged the Corinthian church to also excel in this grace of giving. Later on, he explained that the goal is “equality”. He quoted scripture from Exodus were it states "the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed".
With this you'd think, wow I did not know that Paul encouraged communism or socialism. Isn't it right there in the Bible? It's about equality. Right?
With this, you'd think Paul would be happy to take from the rich, so that the rich did not have too much. That is if you take the Bible out of context. Take a look at the entire verse and chapter and see what it really says. Yes, he cares about equality, but that it should be brought about willingly, also notice the verse says they "gathered". They did the work. They did not sit back for correct distribution of the resource.
"8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others." 2 Cor 8:8
"12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have." 2 Cor 8:12
So if the willingness is not there, doesn't it make the gift not acceptable? For if you are forced to give, does that not by definition not make it a gift?
Paul is clear that this is not about forcing or creating laws for everyone to give. This is also not about making sure there is no one in society that has too much or too little. It's not about taxing or even stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Obviously the Bible is against stealing from others, even if it may be for a good purpose. The end does not justify the means. Let's not forget Paul's teaching that if we do not have love we are just a noisy instrument.
"14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need." 2 Cor 8:14
You may naturally have plenty by the talents, gifts or inheritance that you have, or by the hard work you've put into to having plenty. Paul appeals for you to share in your plenty willingly, but he is not against you having plenty. He assumes you will have plenty at times, and other times others will have plenty. He says in your plenty you can share, so that later in their plenty they can share with you.
I see this is about growth, development, creativity, and sharing, and not about the poor sitting back feeling sorry for themselves and demanding that they deserve to receive the wealth from the rich because the Bible talks about equality. Justifying that the rich must have taken the wealth from the poor, and the poor becoming entitled to other's wealth is evil and deceptive. We should have nothing to do with this sort of thinking. This sort of thinking is a type of poverty of the spirit, and money will not fix that.
Some financially poor may very well be spiritually rich. The spiritually rich may be filed with heavenly joys, supernatural healing, be surrounded by God's presence. They too are invited to share in their spiritual wealth.
We have different spiritual gifts and God may ask for us to share in different ways at different times. The Bible says, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ and "God loves a cheerful giver, not under reluctance or compulsion".
