Acts 5:1-11New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to usbut to God!” Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.
After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.
Everyone's favorite Stewardship Sunday text! :-(
*** Crickets chirping***
Are you still with me? If not, I wouldn't really blame you. Probably not the text you would want to - or likely will - hear on Stewardship Sunday. This is just one of those texts that makes us uncomfortable. Maybe even more than uncomfortable. Maybe angry. Or scared. Or confused.
Or all of the above.
Or maybe it just seems too silly and unbelievable.
I don't have an easy, nicely wrapped up explanation for this text. Not one to make you feel let off the hook if somehow you see yourself as Ananais and Sapphira.
And not one to make you feel good if you see yourself as one of the crowd watching, thinking to yourself "I always knew they weren't giving their fair share."
The truth is that even back in "the good old days" when the church was beginning - during the time when it seemed like everyone was doing what God wanted, there was still sin. There were still human beings being turned in on themselves rather than outward to God.
What I can say is this: what do you think is the issue Peter is angry at? Is it amount of money Ananais and Sapphira give (and don't give), or is it something else?
Is it the lack of integrity? Is it that this new church - this new group of people - are trying to put together a community based on truth. Truth.
And someone in the group told a lie that affected the whole community.
As far as the details of why or how Ananais and Sapphira died, here is a link to a much more complete (and I think, really good) explanation from Rob Bell that I invite you to read:
But for now, know that this is not a text meant to used to guilt us into parting with our money to the church. Instead, it is a text meant to show that truth matters. Integrity matters.
Who we are and who we say we are matters.
God of truth, help me always to be the person I say I am, and to live the life that you have created for me with integrity, truth, honesty, and love. Amen.
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