This week's Bible Study - May 18, 2003
Giving Unselfishly to God's Work
 Background Scripture:
Acts 4:32-5:11
Quote of the Week:
I have tried to keep things in my hands and lost them all, but what I have given into God’s
hands I still possess. - Martin Luther
Giving. So many people run at this word. They may say that this is all the church wants - they want my money. If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times. This is the typical response of a husband whose wife is spiritually active and involved in a church. One of his main resistances to church is that they just want to take his money. So many pressures are exerted on families. Doesn't the church understand that it is expensive to run a household and to raise children? There are always needs for clothing, food and many other miscellaneous expenses. There is a need to prepare for college, weddings, retirements and other unexpected rainy day expenses, right? We should hang on to everything we have because you just never know when you might lose your job or may need to have money available, right?
Being prepared is what the world would have you believe. Honestly, there is some truth in being prepared, but when you find yourself relying on what you have in the bank to meet your needs, you're putting God in a rather small box. While we're not to be loose with money and give it all away, it's never the money that gives you security. It is God and only God. That being said, how should we view giving? Does it matter?
The believers were one in heart and mind. Would you say that believers are 'one' today? While we may share the same beliefs with many others, can we really say we are one? Are you one with believers in your neighborhood or workplace? Are you one with the others in your church? The believers mentioned here evidently operated as one. As I think of oneness and needs of others, I think of a couple of other passages that speak to how interrelated our lives really are -
Whoever has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God exist in him? - 1 John 3:17
But encourage one another, day after day, as long as it is still called today, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin - Hebrews 3:13
When believers are one with another, they will help in times of need and will offer encouragement and accountability to one another. A lone ranger type of Christian is never the intention of Scripture.
With great power the apostles testified to the resurrection, and much grace was upon them. How interconnected is their power and the oneness of the believers? When people see believers living as believers ought to live, there is much power. The power of a life is much more powerful than the power of a spoken word. The power of 'lives' unified is more powerful still. Too often, people tend to think it is the word that is spoken that will reach others. While the word of the gospel has power, it is more powerful when accompanied by a life that reflects the power of the gospel.
There were no needy people among them. Who do you know that needs? Are you helping to meet needs? Are you oblivious or not knowing of the needs of others? Are you ambivalent or uncaring of other's needs? What would be different in our churches and communities if we helped each other meet needs? They sold land or houses to help others in need. Is this what we're called to do? I don't believe we are called to give to the point of being the one that others have to take care of. But, if God has blessed you materially, what good is it for you to hang on to it? It is wise to prepare for the future, but some are so caught up in taking care of themselves, that they forget that it is God who blesses, and not their bank accounts. Are there needy people among you? What are you doing about it?
Ananias and Sapphira were likely business people, who saw opportunities where they existed. Chances are if they had access to the Internet, they would be buying and selling daily, in an attempt to get the most out of their money. I have a co-worker that lives and dies, several times a day, based on the market. (Most recently, he dies several times a day). There are many people that are business people, looking for the best way to make a deal, and as long as it is above board, in and of itself, that's not a problem. However, if you're a Christian and a businessperson, should there be any change in mindset?
Ananais and Sapphira sold some property. There's nothing wrong with selling your property, is there? They took part of what they sold and gave it to the church. This wouldn't seem to be a problem, except we find out later that they indicated they were giving it all, and thereby they were giving under false pretenses. Trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the church, as it seems. As I reread the story, it occurs to me that they likely would have been okay, if they had been upfront. We sold the property. We made 100,000 and we've giving 50,000 to the church - or whatever, as long as it was truthful.
Peter confronted Ananias and asked how he could do such a thing. The property was his before, to do with as he pleased, but to pull a ruse and try to come out smelling like a rose, while under false pretenses, was not acceptable. Ananias forgot what so many of us often forget - when we think we've hidden something from others, we may have, but you can never hide from God. And, when it all boils down, it doesn't matter what others think - it only matters what God thinks. Ananias had not lied to men, but to God.
Was what he did a problem, really? As Peter said, it was his land to do with as he saw fit. Is there a problem with selling what is yours and giving part of it to the church? As I stated, I don't think so, but if you're doing any of this for 'show', then you need to question if it's worth giving anything at all. Remember, your gift to the church is not about IRS regulations and tax abatement purposes, but it is really to be given as to God. You may pass an audit, due to some loophole, but God's view is clear and undefiled.
Ananias listened to what Peter had said and it had a profound impact on him - he died suddenly. A few hours passed and Sapphira came into the room. Peter asked her what the price was that they had sold their land for. The script had doubtlessly been rehearsed several times, and she answered as planned. From only the reading of the demise of Ananias, it wasn't apparent that he tried to pull the wool over the eyes of the church, but from reading about Sapphira, it becomes obvious. They had intentionally deceived the church, forgetting that God saw all that was going on. Her demise was the same as her husband's - she fell and died and was then buried next to her husband.
How serious did God take what they had done? This shows God's distaste of people that are hypocritical in what they say and do. In this case, the punishment was immediate death. Can you imagine how this would change things today? If this were so, there would be a lot less of you reading these and certainly not me writing it. What was the reaction of the people? Great fear seized them and likely changed the way they lived from that point forward.
Closing
As I write this lesson, I think of another passage in Hebrews 3, quoted from Psalms - "Today if you hear his voice, do harden your hearts as when they provoked me". Ananias and Sapphira show hearts that have been hardened. It is doubtful that this was a first case incident and immediate punishment of death. My guess is that their hearts had been hardened and they were just playing the game. They may even look like fine, upstanding people in the local church.
What about you and I? Have our hearts been hardened? Are we going through the motions and only using the church for our own gain? Have you forgotten what life is all about? Have we forgotten that God has redeemed us and has expectations of us? Are there changes that we need to make?
The church, as mentioned in Acts 4, is a great model of what we should be as a church. Too often, people put their happy church faces on as they leave their homes (or their cars) and act as if they have no cares in the world. Whether it be pride or something else, they neglect to share their needs with others. So many people that I have known over the past several years end up making major life decisions, without even asking for other believers to pray for them. Others struggle to make ends meet, or keep an illness to themselves, as they don't want to put others out.
There are two main points I see from this example church -
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When you are in need, let others know. If you are struggling, having others praying for you and perhaps even helping in a tangible manner provides a blessing
for them. Don't deprive other believers from a potential blessing. We are connected to one another and we need to share our burdens, and our joys.
Romans 14:7 states "For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself"
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Don't stay inward focused. Open your eyes and see the needs. Realize how God has blessed you, and that He is in control of your life. When you see the needs, help. What may seem the least can actually be the most - pray for one another. You don't need to wait until a catastrophe occurs. In other times, you may see tangible needs - a family struggling to make ends meet, a yard that needs mowing, etc. Make yourself available. You will be blessed.
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