January 20, 2015-Choices

Act 5:1-11

But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3“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? 4While 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 us but to God!” 5Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him. 7After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8Peter 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.” 9Then 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.” 10Immediately 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. 11And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.

This passage is one of my favorites and I shared this with the Adult Sunday School a few months ago.  Here we have two faith filled servants, Ananias and Sapphira who sell their property.  In this early Christian community, the people agreed to share everything they had—everything.  It seems unbelievable to us, maybe even unfair.  However, this was the agreement with the community.  However, now they decide as a couple to hold back some of the proceeds.  

Ananias brings what he plans on sharing and lays it at Peter’s feet, and Peter then calls him out for only bringing a portion.  Peter says, ‘Ananias, you aren’t lying to us, you are lying to God.  And he fell down dead.

Later Sapphira comes, not knowing what went on.  She too is questioned by Peter.  And when she lies, she falls over dead.

I have always wanted to use this as a stewardship sermon, in an evil sort of way.  Some would get the humor, some not.  However, this passage does ask the question—what is it that we are lying about?  How many of us say we don’t have time for something—and yet it isn’t really that we don’t have time, it is we choose not to have the time.  I know I don’t seem to have time for cleaning and house chores, but I seem to find the time for the reality TV shows and the computer.  When I say I can’t give anymore, this is all I have, is it because we really don’t have anything to give, or is it that we choose to use our money elsewhere? 

I think this passage gets to choices, what we choose to do with what God has given us.  Is it used for the purpose of building the kingdom?  Is it used for self-gratification or selfish wants?  Do we hold back for a rainy day, when we might need some—that is what Ananias and Sapphira may have been doing. 

I wonder, what if we made our choices with God, if we listened in prayer to what God would desire us to do with what God has graciously given.  

Let us prayer:  We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us; our time, our talents, and our possessions; signs of your gracious love.  Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen