There was a movement going through the church where people were selling their properties and giving all the money to the church, living a communal lifestyle (Acts 4:32-37). They were able to give and share because they felt that what they had was not their own, they would not see a brother or sister suffer when others had plenty. Truth is, everything you and I have is on loan from God, what are you doing with it?
So Ananias and Sapphira also sold a field that they had, and gave some of the money to the church. Their sin was not keeping part of the money, as Peter said 'the field was theirs, and the money was theirs to do what they liked with' (Acts 5v4, paraphrase) their sin was pretending to have given it all; their crime was against the Spirit, lying to God. The only reason I think they would have done this was to be noticed by people, possibly competing with Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37). Their motivation for this was pride. The question is: do we do the same thing?
God's condition is that we give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7), honestly, and without making a fanfare, that is not just of our finances, but also in our service to him.
I, like many, have been guilty of wanting to 'be noticed' for things I have done, it is part of my flawed nature, yet the greatest joy for me has always been when I have done as instructed, 'but when you give to someone in need, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing'. (Matthew 6 v 3). Such deeds are a secret between me and God, we smile together, I add a clause of my own, 'if anyone finds out about it, it will not count', that helps me.
Like the early church let us bless those around us, why not do something today and don't get found out! God will put someone on your heart if you ask him. I cannot count the number of times I was blessed by my church family at St Matthews: money in my pigeon hole one Christmas when I had nothing, furniture for my home, a 4-berth caravan, doughnuts and coffee on my doorstep when I moved house, a bag of shopping, a car for my son … …….the list is immense, as is my gratitude.
Can't afford to give and share what you have? In my opinion, we can't afford not to,
Dawn Milward
Read the bible in a year: Psalm 71:9-18, 2 Samuel 13:1-39, Acts 4:23-5:11
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