Part 14 (2/2)
They certainly were remembered, as ”partners in business, partners in crime, partners in death.”11 Their sad story was recorded in Scripture as a lesson and as a warning.
Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. Acts 5:11 This is the earliest use of the word ”church” in the book of Acts. Note the other key word of the sentence: ”fear.” How I wish that the whole church had been seized with great grace or love or joy. Those things come with the Spirit of the Lord, to be sure. But ”the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.”12 During that season of signs and wonders and miracles, it was necessary for the Lord to strike fear in their hearts, the sort of fear that would ultimately keep them safely in the kingdom.
Fear, when it is justified, is healthy. Fear keeps a toddler from running into the street-the second time. The first time, it's a parent's wrath and promises of hasty punishment if the action is repeated that gets his or her attention.
This toddler of a church in Jerusalem literally had the wrath of G.o.d presented to them through Ananias and Sapphira. We can sympathize with her naivete, identify with her unnecessary h.o.a.rding, and mourn her death. But let's not follow in her footsteps.
Interesting how Sapphira's story still has the power to teach us. I was in the middle of working on this chapter when I stopped at an airport bookstore and spotted a lovely book of quotes. It was a small but splendidly ill.u.s.trated hardcover gift book, which I snapped up with glee. I didn't even look at the price, expecting something in the range of $10. When the clerk rang it up as $5.95, I silently marveled at the bargain and flipped open the cover to see if it was on sale.
No. It was 5.95 in British pounds, but 8.95 in American dollars. Since the British price was in larger type, it was obvious why the clerk had rung it up wrong. Since I'd already paid for it and put away my wallet, our transaction was complete as far as the busy employee was concerned.
Okay, girls. What would you have done?
I opened my mouth, then closed it.
I checked my watch and reminded myself I had only twenty minutes until takeoff.
I reached for my wallet and put it back, remembering I didn't have any more one-dollar bills. And besides, it would involve voiding the previous receipt and starting all over. It could take hours. Well, precious minutes at any rate.
Was I within my rights as a consumer to smile and leave with my accidental bargain?
Yup. Which is exactly what I did, still ticking off perfectly valid reasons why my choice was fair and acceptable.
An old memory verse ran through my head and stopped my heart cold: ”Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.”13 I was not struck dead at the airport. But to think that, knowing and loving Christ as I do, I'd still withhold money, acting as though it's mine to do with as I please when everything I own belongs to him, leaves me shaking my head in disgust.
Instead of a simple bit of business at the register that would have left the clerk grateful for my honesty and me three dollars poorer in cash but much richer in spirit, I carried my shame around with me all weekend. Even the joy of reading the pretty book was diminished every time I opened it and saw the correct price boldly printed inside the slipcover.
Never fear, sisters. I asked G.o.d's forgiveness. Found the receipt. And sent off a check for the difference plus state tax. But how like Sapphira I was, to sidestep the truth and pay for it later.
I did not pay with my life. But to the extent that the Spirit was quenched, an opportunity for demonstrating grace was lost, and the Adversary claimed a small victory-to that degree a tiny bit of my life in Christ was dealt a deathblow. And for that, I mourn.
What Lessons Can We Learn from Sapphira?
Pride and generosity don't mix.
G.o.d delights in seeing us share our time, money, and resources for no reason other than the joy of giving. When our motives are pure, then giving is not only easy, it's downright fun. When we give with an expectation of receiving accolades or seeing our names carved in stone, though, the joy is gone, chased away by fear and a hunger for approval that can never be satisfied.
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for G.o.d loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Learn to give when n.o.body's looking.
I have a dear friend who loves to slip a hundred-dollar bill in an envelope and tuck it in someone's Bible when he or she isn't looking, someone for whom it means another week with a roof over the family's head or milk for the children. This is pure giving, without anyone knowing the source, not even the recipient. She just writes, ”A gift for you from Jesus” on the envelope. I would never have known if I hadn't caught her in the act and been sworn to silence! Your secret's safe with me, friend.
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. Matthew 6:3-4 Honesty isn't the best policy; it's the only policy.
Sapphira could have saved her life and learned her lesson, if she'd only reconsidered and told the truth. There might have been a penalty to pay, and she'd still have been a widow-but a living, breathing one. When we have a choice (and we always do), let's tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. In the long run it's easier-nothing ugly to cover up or worry about. In the short run it's the right thing to do. Always.
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Psalm 34:13 You pays your money, you makes your choice.
Sapphira made the wrong choice because she was pursuing temporal riches instead of eternal ones. Before we donate our resources, let's figure out what's in it for us. If the answer is nothing, then we can proceed with joy! The wise woman makes giving a priority, knowing that when she goes to glory, it's all left behind anyway. Let's choose carefully those recipients for whom our gifts could mean the difference between a meaningless death versus a meaningful life in Christ.
The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death. Proverbs 11:19
Good Girl Thoughts Worth Considering
1. How does the idea of believers pooling their resources for the common good strike you? Any instances where you've seen it work? How could we as a church be more generous with one another? What steps do you need to take in your own life to move toward a more generous spirit?
2. What are some reasons we donate money, other than a pure desire to do so? Do you see weaknesses in your own life in this area of motivation? How could your heart needs be met in a more G.o.dly fas.h.i.+on, rather than through public recognition of giving? Is there a place for such accolades?
3. Part of Sapphira's problem was a case of ”keeping up with the (Barnabas) Joneses.” How can we help one another combat that natural-but-not-nice drive to play ”me, too” and allow our greed to overcome our desire to do what is right?
4. What excuses do you suppose they gave themselves for their subterfuge? Any of them sound familiar? What are some practical ways you can prevent yourself from falling into an excuse-making mode when the temptation to lie strikes?
5. If they truly needed the money they held back, what options did Ananias and Sapphira have instead of hiding it? Is investing money in a portfolio the same as h.o.a.rding it? Does doing so indicate prudent planning or a lack of faith?
6. Did my story of the price sticker at the airport bring to mind any similar experiences of your own? How did you handle it...or wish you'd handled it? Is something this seemingly insignificant important to G.o.d?
7. Where is grace in this story? Should Sapphira have been given another chance or been told what had happened to her husband before she was asked the fateful question? How do you reconcile Sapphira's story with your understanding of a G.o.d who forgives?
8. What's the most important lesson you've learned from the sad but sinful Sapphira?
7.
KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR
He who has courage and faith
will never perish in misery!
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