“Truth and Consequences”(Ananius & Sapphira) Acts Rev Dr Robert G. Leroe
Have you ever kept a gift that you had planned to give away? Acts 5 tells of such a gift. This incident reveals that even in the earliest days of the Church, New Testament believers were not a society of perfect people. We tend to elevate the “Early Church”, yet it consisted of people pretty much like us.
The early church--just like the church at the end of the 20th century--depended on financial assistance. The Bible word “offering” means “to carry to”. The word was used to describe the blood offerings in the Hebrew Temple. The blood of the sacrifice was “carried to” the altar. We carry our gifts to God, placing them before Him, for His use. In some churches, the people walk up to the front with their offerings. Verse 2 says that Ananias placed his offering at the feet of the apostles. The previous chapter records the generosity of other believers, particularly Barnabus.
Ananias and Sapphira had some real estate, which they sold. Many Christians were giving generously to the Church, and they apparently didn’t want to be among those who gave little. Giving is important. The Church needs support, and the Bible teaches that 10% of our income is an appropriate amount to contribute. However, our attitude in giving is just as important. If we give out of pride, trying to impress others, God isn’t impressed. Ananias and Sapphira didn’t want to appear less spiritual than the others. George Macdonald wrote, “Half the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not.”
This incident is about giving, but it is primarily about hypocrisy. We need to examine our motives for giving. The best attitude is one of near anonymity We shouldn’t make a big deal of our generosity, or any acts of Christian service. We simply give and serve, without any fuss. If you teach Sunday School, work on the finance committee, serve as church photographer, or visit people in the hospital, you’re simply grateful for the opportunity to serve. You’re not expecting a medal. If you prepare your budget with regard to giving God a tithe, it becomes a non-issue. You simply do it, without any fanfare, without any hidden agendas. The Pharisees used to make a big show of their giving and were criticized by Jesus for calling attention to themselves.
In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus critiques those who give for sake of appearances, rather than out of compassion. Their actions are noble, but they give with ulterior motives. Some ministers even urge generous giving, saying that God will reward us with more than we give—which is only encouraging ulterior motives for giving. God may well reward our generosity, but that should never be our motive for giving. I contribute to my mutal fund because I want to make a profit, but I should not contribute to the Church because I hope to profit from my giving. Our “benefit” should be the satisfaction we gain, knowing that we have been blessed to be among those able to give. Listen to our Lord’s warning:
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
When you see concert halls named after benefactors, and educational foundations named for philanthropic contributors, it’s tempting to appraise the motives of the givers. I saw an impressive church in NJ where the primary donor’s name was inscribed in big letters over the entrance. How much reward in heaven would such a benefactor receive? It’s tempting to seek a higher reputation than we deserve. Private, or at least low-key generosity usually prevents hypocrisy, for the most part. The point is, God knows our hearts. He understands our motives. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows how much we should give (of money, time, talents, and resources), what we’re actually giving, and why we’re giving. We would profit from some personal reflection on whether we’re giving in order to gain undue credit or recognition.
The Baby Boomer generation is not as generous as earlier generations in support of both Christian ministries and secular charities. Generation X is described as being downright selfish. This is according to extensive sociological studies by the Barna Institute. Reformed scholar Dr. Bruce Lockerbie urges ministers to stop saying “I’m OK, you’re OK and begin preaching about why giving is not optional.” Church giving is not a membership fee we pay to belong; it is an act of love. We would do well to ask ourselves what we tend to hold back from the Lord, and why.
To make an analogy, how much love do so-called “dead-beat dads” have for their families? If they can give, but refuse to help their children, how much do they love?
No one made Ananias and Sapphira contribute to the Church—there was no coercion, no pressure; they were under no obligation. And they had every right to retain part, even all of the price for their land, for their own use. Their sin was in presenting the balance as though it were the total purchase-price they had received. It was a deliberate deception. They didn’t give as much as they could, but they pretended they did, to make people think they were extra-spiritual. They were right to equate giving with spirituality, but wrong to think giving was a substitute for spirituality.
Peter sounds a bit like prophet Elijah in verse 3, with his stern rebuke. He says, “How is it that Satan has so filled your heart?” If Satan can’t attack the Church from the outside, he will try to work from the inside. The word “filled” could be translated “maimed”. Greed can maim our souls. Pride, and the desire for fame can equally maim us. We become tempted to do whatever it takes for the high regard of others. We might walk all over others for a high position; we may engage in unethical business practices in order to become successful; as supervisors we may work our people past exhaustion to make us look good; and we may associate with unholy people--we may even start looking up to them.
We aren’t told how Peter knew of this deceit, but most assume the Holy Spirit revealed it to him. Peter then bluntly revealed the truth and consequences. Some people criticize Peter, yet Peter did not kill Ananias and Sapphira. It was God who brought about their sudden death. We might also wonder why God was so harsh. A higher standard ought to prevail among the followers of Jesus. We expect our governmental leaders to live by a higher standard, yet even more we should expect godly behavior from God’s people. Believers are not sinless, but neither should their lives be characterized by sin. Ananias and Sapphira interrupted the early progress of God’s people. And they were disciplined.
Church discipline is an unpleasant subject. Nonetheless, there are times in the life of a church when a member or members must be counseled about exceptionally sinful practices. I use the word “exceptionally” because we are all sinners saved by grace. This sober judgment likely left many within the community to ponder, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” If God were to condemn all sinners, there wouldn’t be anyone left. If God killed all Christian sinners, our churches would all be empty!
It’s been said, “You can’t fool God”, yet this unfortunate couple tried to. Peter says bluntly that they “have not lied to men but to God.” How do people lie to God? Sometimes by failing to be honest with themselves. By forgetting that God knows us better than we know ourselves. And by making promises and resolutions we know we don’t really intend to keep. When we covenant with God to read our Bibles more consistently, or be more faithful in going to church, more generous in our stewardship/our giving, and then slip back into our old habits.
When Ananias’ wife returned 3 hours later (vs 8), she had an opportunity to tell the truth. Verse one states that her husband worked his deceit with her “full knowledge.” She stuck to her cover story, and joined her husband in death. This time Peter declared, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” The Bible speaks of God’s patience with us, yet in this case, early on in the life of the Church, it appears an example needed to be made to warn against hypocritical, prideful giving. If God had not intervened, Ananias and Sapphira would likely have become influential people in the early church.
Were Ananias and Sapphira true believers? The closest answer I can uncover is from II Timothy 2:19, “The Lord knows those who are His, and everyone who confesses the Name of the Lord must turn from wickedness.” The name Ananias means “God is gracious”, but he learned that God is also holy. Sapphira means “beautiful”, but her heart was deformed with sin.
In verse 11 we learn the general reaction to this severe incident: FEAR. We have a love/fear relationship with God. On one hand, He is our loving Father; on the other hand, He is not to be trifled with. He expects us to be honest with Him. The “ones He loves, He chastens” (Heb 12:5-6)...sometimes to the point where He may take a wayward believer home. The Apostle John states that “There is a sin that leads to death” (I Jn 5:16). That doesn’t mean that God will blast us for the slightest offense. In this same epistle/letter from John, he explains that true Christians do not habitually, continuously, or characteristically commit sin (3:9). And (fortunately), the Bible speaks often of God’s patience with us, and of His grace. Yet it also describes God as a “consuming fire” (Heb 12:29). Have you experienced “the fear of the Lord”?. The book of Proverbs tells us that such fear is “the beginning of wisdom” (1:7). How has that fear changed your life? At a transition point, a new period of salvation history, God used this judgment as a warning to the Church.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to give, not to impress others, but to build up Your Kingdom. Help us to understand that for believers giving is not an option, but a responsibility. Cause us to have pure motives as we give our offerings. Thank You for the greatest Gift of all—One we could never repay—the Gift of Your Son, Whose blood was shed for our crimes, Whose rich mercy is available to all who will look to Him, and live. Amen.
