Are you the kind of person who would stick with the Ford Model T when the Tesla Cyber Truck rolls off the production line? Or maybe you’re still using that steam engine? At some point you will have to get on board with the energy transition going on around us. In a way, this is what Ananias and Sapphira failed to do (Acts 5). Jesus, risen and ascended, offers a new power for life but Ananias and Sapphira were still burning the old fuel. What was their energy? What was the alternative? And where will it lead?
The Wrong Kind of Energy: Reputation, Greed, Satan
In Acts chapter 5 we see Ananias and Sapphira hatch a plan to gain esteem from the church community like Joseph–Barnabas gets at the end of chapter 4. But while Barnabas gave the whole of the profits from his land sale to the church to distribute to those in need (Acts 4:36–37), this couple aims for a discount, keeping back some of their profits for themselves while pretending they gave the entirety (Acts 5:1–2). They still give something, but the intent is wrong.
They wanted commendation, but instead they receive condemnation. Confronted, Ananias and Sapphira both suffer a miraculous punishment of death. In chapter 5 verse 3, Peter exposes the source of their intent, the energy behind their action: “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?”
I don’t know why exactly God chose to condemn them in that moment and in that way. One big reason, however, must be that this event took place at the very beginning of the Christian church. Luke will use that word for the first time in the whole book in verse 11: “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.” God clearly wants the Jesus’ church to head in the right direction and so warns them in this astonishing way.
Where should the energy for generosity have come from? We learn this in the immediately preceding episodes of the book of Acts.
The Alternative Energy: The Grace of God and the Power of the Spirit
The generosity of God, proclaimed boldly, and the power of the Spirit at work in the disciples had a profound effect on the community of believers. In Acts chapter 4 verses 33 to 34 we read:
With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them.
If we were to teleport even the wealthiest of these people into our present moment, I think we would consider them to be poor. Lacking in education, healthcare, maybe owning some land but probably not much more than that. We would think that we were wealthy and they were poor. And yet they were eager to give and share to help one another.
These people understood that Jesus was on the throne, that he had conquered death. They knew that they had received wealth in every way that mattered, for they had God’s favour, God’s grace. Not because they deserved it, but freely offered. Seeing themselves forgiven and loved, they too lived lives of forgiveness and love. They began to see each other as family, and families look after each other. So while this certainly was radical generosity, it was, to them, entirely reasonable as well.
This is the energy transition: from a concern for wealth and reputation to a Spirit-empowered generosity. You give because you are accepted. That’s the energy transition that Ananias and Sapphira failed to get on board with: they gave to gain acceptance. God made their deaths a hard warning so his community would avoid the same folly.
If we stick with the old way we might do still do some good things. Ananias and Sapphira still gave money to the church. But they did so empowered not by the gospel and by the Spirit, but by selfishness and, ultimately, Satan. Who wants a church where pretence is rewarded? Where, perhaps, ostentatious donors benefit from being drawn into some inner ring? Sadly, this is often exactly what we see in the church today. When this happens, we undermine the integrity of the church and the truth of the gospel of grace. Acts 5 teaches us that’s deadly. We must realise the old world order has been replaced by the age of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. We need to get on board with the way of the Spirit who brings us out of self-protection and self-aggrandisement, fills us with God’s grace and leads us toward genuine generosity.
Sapphira’s name means beautiful. Ananias’ name means ‘the Lord is gracious’. But instead of resting in the beautiful grace of the Lord, as the church did at the end of chapter 4, this couple lie to God’s people to gain recognition. And to lie to God’s church is to lie to the Holy Spirit himself. A severe lesson was taught to the whole church and written down for all ages.
The Energy Transition and Tax Returns
I could end this end this article with a discussion of the freedoms we see in this passage—“Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?” Acts 5:4. I could end with a warning against the absurdity of seeking to avoid hypocrisy through remaining silent on the subject of generosity (which would undermine Acts 4:36–37). Or perhaps I could explore the combination of fear and reassurance that comes with knowing that God can see our hearts. Instead of those things I’m going to take this article in a very practical direction and consider the secular festival of the Tax Return.
According to a quick Google search, the average tax return is $2 800. What could you do in the freedom of the gospel of grace and by the power of the Spirit with whatever windfall of money you receive back this year? Perhaps you have debt that should be repaid? Is there someone in your church community who could use some extra support? Perhaps there’s a local community need you know of which you could help meet, there’s certainly many international ones. Our world also has a great need for more gospel workers and churches. There are plenty of wonderful organisations that seek to evangelise non-Christians and encourage believers. Or imagine what your church could do if even one third of its households transferred, say, $2 000 extra into the the church bank account this month?
As a person who raises support, not only for my own work, but for other organisations as well, I am very aware of the many possible options for gospel giving. I want to encourage you to choose something important and give generously, if you are in a position to. Remember, Jesus gave his all for us and he is on his throne, pouring out his Spirit into those who trust him. Among other things, this means that we, his people, can be both bold and rational in generosity.
