One main problem scholars have is interpreting the Bible based on experience.  For example, if a Christian dies of a sickness, does that mean healing is no longer a valid doctrine?  Of course not.  Our experiences must be judged by the word, not the word judged on our experiences.  Experience may tell us the early churches struggled financially.  Experience also tells us that the early church had many doctrines wrong, such as works based salvation.  Does that mean we should teach salvation by works of the Law?  Of course not.  In fact, most of Paul's letters were written to correct many doctrinal and moral issues these churches had.  The Corinthians were eating the Lord's Supper unworthily, and many dying prematurely because of it (See 1 Cor 11).  The Galatians were leaning back on works based salvation (See Gal 3).  The Church of Jerusalem was close to departing from the faith (See Hebrews 3-4).  Therefore, using the early church as a plumbline for correct behavior is dangerous, because they were fallible people and with many spiritual defects.  Such defects could easily have prevented them from experiencing God's best.  To see them as the plumb line of proper behavior would be like basing our adult behavior on that of children.  The early church was filled with babes and those who had yet to grow up in the things of God.  Over time, the church should be growing up unto the "perfect man" (Eph 4:13), where we as a corporate body are acting upon the promises of God.  At some point of maturity we should start seeing the will of God manifested in our midst, including the wealth of the sinners laid up for the just (Prov 13:22). The ultimate apex of this will be the millenial reign, where the kingdom of Christ will tangible rule the earth.

 

The book of Acts tells us that the people in the church sold all they had and distributed, such that not a single person lacked (See Acts 4:34-37).  So the very first church was not entirely poverty stricken.  While he was in Thessalonica, the Philippians sent more than one gift of money to Paul, which enabled him not to take financial support from the Corinthians (Phil 4:15-16; 2 Cor 11:9).  God always provides for the advancement of the Gospel.  He has promised to provide all of our physical needs if we first seek His kingdom (Matt 6:33).  He has also promised to financially bless those who give bountifully (2 Cor 9:5-11, Php 4:19). It is never God's will for His people to be poverty stricken.  Poverty is a curse, not a blessing.  Persecution, though promised, does not necessitate poverty.  Matthew 5:11 defines persecution as being more of a verbal assault rather than a guaranteed loss of financial well-being - "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."  Therefore you can be financially sound and still be persecuted.  An on-fire Christian in today's workforce will face plenty of persecution and mocking, AND they will still get a pay check.