the basic message #E254

3/16/04

In the 4th and 5th Chapter of Acts, a story is told about a couple named Ananias and Sapphira.  It seems that the early believers were "one in heart and mind" and conducted their financial business as such.  It was common during this time in Church history for the people to sell various types of property and bring the proceeds to the Apostles for use in the early Church.  Ananias and Sapphira decided to sell a piece of property they owned and give the money to the Apostles, or so it seemed.  While they did sell the property, and while they did give some money to the Apostles, what wasn't so obvious is that they held back some of the money for themselves.  Peter began to question Ananias, with the culmination being Peter's blistering assessment: "You have not lied to men but to God."  The Scripture tells us that as soon as Ananias heard this he fell down and died.  If that was the end of the story, we might surmise that Ananias had a heart attack from the stress, or maybe he just had a weak heart anyway.  But noooooo, the story doesn't end there.  About 3 hours later, Sapphira happens along.  Peter asked her if the amount of money given was the full price for the property.  She answered "yes, that is the price".  Upon hearing her answer, Peter explained that her husband had been carried out a few hours earlier- struck dead because he lied to God.  We're told that upon hearing this, Sapphira fell dead.  I think it's highly unlikely that two people would have died of natural causes immediately after being confronted about their lies to God.  Did God kill them?  I believe he did, and since "great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events", I'd say that the people of that time were also convinced that it was God's hand that caused the deaths of the liars.

I find this story intriguing for several reasons.  First of all, don't lose sight of the fact that these were some of the original Christians.  They were under the same "rule system" that you and I operate under today.  Secondly, the early believers didn't have to give their money or property to the Apostles- it was entirely voluntary.  Lastly, they could have very easily stated up front that they were going to sell their property for "x" amount of dollars and give half, or whatever amount to the Apostles- no one was making them do anything.

So why did they do what they did, and why did God react like he did?  Apparently they didn't want to be upstaged by some other folks who were generously giving large sums of money to the Apostles for the building of the early church, yet they didn't want to be totally devoted to the cause either.  I think it's important to note that the people involved in this story are called "believers", thereby suggesting that they are indeed Christians.  How were the first Christians different from us today?  The answer should be "there is no difference".  The early church believed that Jesus was God, that he died and was resurrected.  We believe the same today.  The early church believed that faith in Jesus Christ and repentance of our sins would grant us eternal life in Heaven.  We still believe that today.  With these thoughts in mind, I think we would be wise to learn from the lesson that took the lives of Ananias and Sapphira.  I see no other New Testament story that chronicles the execution of church members by God, and I think it's simply because God felt that one example was enough.  While I certainly believe that God is all-knowing and supremely wise, I do think this story has been preached less and less as time goes on, thereby keeping modern believers ignorant about the wrath of God. 

How do we lie to God today?  I don't think it's very often that people sell property and pledge the entire amount to the Church today, but it's possible.  What is much more likely is the small untruths we routinely make in the Church.  Like what?  It might be something as simple as being asked, "Hey- we missed you guys in church last week- was everything okay?"  The response might be something like this: "Well, my wife woke up with a sore throat so we decided to stay home."  What's missing from the answer is the rest of the story- while the wife did indeed have a sore throat, that didn't stop them from taking their boat to the lake and having a big time all day Sunday.  Is it a sin to skip church?  Nope, but lying about it is.  I used to belong to a small country church where everyone knew each other quite well.  If you missed a Sunday, you would almost certainly be quizzed the following week.  Rather than be guilty of lying about taking the day off, I would simply respond, "We played hooky last Sunday".  I wouldn't hear another word after that. 

How else do we lie to God?  Try this one on: The church is collecting money for a missionary trip to Africa.  The missionary committee asks you for financial support.  You say that times have been a little tight recently, and that you won't be able to help out.  If times have been tight, that's a suitable answer, but if you're saving up to buy a home theater system, then you've fallen in the same trap that killed Ananias and Sapphira.  Keep this thought in mind- God will not make you give him anything, but what he does want is honesty.  I believe very firmly in giving back to God.  I have no doubt that God has richly blessed me more and more as I give back more.  But God cannot and should not be mocked.  We have become a people who routinely lie in our everyday lives- even when lying isn't necessary.  We can lie to ourselves and we can lie to each other, but once again, God will not be mocked by our untruthfulness towards him.