Acts 5:1

"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession" Acts 5:1

Here's a couple with a problem. It wasn't that they were rich, though they probably were. It wasn't that they sold some property. It wasn't even that they lied about the selling price - though that was a serious problem. Their problem was that they loved themselves more than they loved God. Let's recap the story. Ananias and Sapphira had witnessed the act of one Barnabas who sold his property and gave it all to the apostles. I imagine that it created quite a stir among the saints. "Did you hear what Barnabas did? Wasn't that fantastic?" I suspect that the next time he entered the assembly a hearty round of applause erupted spontaneously in his honor. Barnabas didn't do it for the attention or the adulation. He did it to meet a need. I suspect that he was rather embarrassed by the praise heaped upon him.

Having seen all this, our wonderful couple decided to do the same. They wanted the attention. They wanted the praise. They wanted to bask in the spotlight for a few moments. Maybe they wanted mentioned in the "Chronicles of the Early Church" when it was published. (This they were - but not in the way they expected!) So they found a piece of property they didn't particularly need and sold it. It probably went for a few shekels more than they expected and the weight of their coin purse began to feel mighty good. That night in bed after the kids were tucked in and the candles were out a conversation such as this might of taken place.

"Wow, I never thought that piece of junk property would bring that much," said Ananias. "That was a lot. It humored me to see the expression on your face when you came through the door!" replied his loving wife. "My look? You should have seen yours when I poured the contents of the coin purse on the table! I've never seen that many coins at one time in all my life." Sapphira pauses for a moment, "Do you think we really have to give it ALL to God? Couldn't we keep some of it ourselves?"

"Sure, we could. But we wouldn't get the spotlight treatment. No one honors those who give half of the proceeds of the sale. Isn't that why we did it?" "Yes, but . . . ." "I've got it, Sapphira. No one knows what I got for that property. They wouldn't believe it if they did. Here's what we will do. I'll go to the apostles and tell them I sold it for such and such. They won't know the difference. We will get the praise - and we will keep the balance! We'll be rich!" Sapphira again pauses. "I don't know Ananias. It sounds like a good plan - but lying to Peter? He's pretty insightful. . . . . . . . . Well, that is a lot of money . . . ..Ok. Let's do it." The next day the transaction is completed with the apostles. Ananias dies. Sapphira follows him to the grave. So WHAT'S THEIR PROBLEM IF IT WASN'T LYING! Their problem was they were stuck on themselves. They wanted the praise, the adoration, the attention. They wanted to be in the spotlight. They wanted . . . .

"Oh, I see. They were selfish." You got it. "But I'm not like that." Really? I'm afraid that I am. I suspect that you are. Haven't you ever done anything for God to get the praise - the honor - the glory. Sure you have. Was it when you were a kid, a young adult, last year? Or was it yesterday or today? What really cooked Ananias' and Sapphira's goose was that they lied to the Holy Spirit. That God couldn't tolerate. He would have worked with them on their selfishness, their greed. But He couldn't work with their affront to Him. If He had, everyone would have taken up the example and lied to God. No one could be trusted - and God would have been knocked off His throne!

So God did what He had to do. He put down the insurrection in the very beginning. Now about you and me. We had best rein in our selfishness because sooner or later we will allow it to come above God in such a way that He will not be able to tolerate it. He may not strike us dead, but He will discipline us in a serious manner. Amen and Amen.