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The very first Christian iconography that I know of is in a rich family's tomb
That strikes me as unsurprising. The rich could afford such things. The poor rarely leave behind much of anything. For all we know there were 10,000 poor for every rich Christian in the early church. We do know Christians were persecuted. That would indicate being cut off, deprived, poor.
OTOH the Bible is full of instructions to share and be generous. I also believe modern Christians take those instructions seriously.
http://www.openbible.info/topics/sharing
Hebrews 13:16 ESV / Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
1 Timothy 6:18 ESV /They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
Luke 6:38 ESV / Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Isaiah 58
ESV /Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Luke 3:11 ESV / And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
2 Corinthians 9:13 ESV / By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
Galatians 6:6 ESV / One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.
John 6:1-13 ESV / After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” ...
Proverbs 14:10 ESV / The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
Luke 6:29-30 ESV / To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.
Ephesians 3:6 ESV / This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Acts 4:32 ESV / Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
Matthew 11:25-30 ESV / At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ...
Matthew 25:31-46 ESV /“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ...
That strikes me as unsurprising. The rich could afford such things. The poor rarely leave behind much of anything. For all we know there were 10,000 poor for every rich Christian in the early church. We do know Christians were persecuted. That would indicate being cut off, deprived, poor.
OTOH the Bible is full of instructions to share and be generous. I also believe modern Christians take those instructions seriously.
http://www.openbible.info/topics/sharing
Hebrews 13:16 ESV / Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
1 Timothy 6:18 ESV /They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
Luke 6:38 ESV / Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Isaiah 58
ESV /Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Luke 3:11 ESV / And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
2 Corinthians 9:13 ESV / By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
Galatians 6:6 ESV / One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.
John 6:1-13 ESV / After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” ...
Proverbs 14:10 ESV / The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
Luke 6:29-30 ESV / To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.
Ephesians 3:6 ESV / This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Acts 4:32 ESV / Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
Matthew 11:25-30 ESV / At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ...
Matthew 25:31-46 ESV /“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ...
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