Appearances 4

Acts 5:1-5

Several years back one of our members brought in a “Ma and Pa Kettle” film so we could use a clip from it. In the brief scene the collection plate is passed in church and the Kettle children flick the bottom of the plate to make the sound of a coin dropping. But at the end of the pew the plate is empty. They made a show of giving but gave nothing.

This account from the early church is during a time when the faithful shared their possessions and means with one another. What did Ananias and Sapphira do? What was Peter’s comment? Who was sinned against?

Ananias and his wife have indeed presented a gift. They did give something. The offering plate was not empty. Looking at the words of Peter – “wasn’t the money at your disposal” – shows us that it was entirely up to the two of them what amount was presented. Yet a sin was committed.

The sin was not in the amount of the gift. The sin was not that God was cheated out of money due to him. The money was at the disposal of Ananaias and Sapphira and they could do with it what they pleased. What then is the sin?

The sin must be that Ananias and Sapphira were being false in the appearance of their giving. It must be that their contribution was intended to be seen as a very generous donation, a donation of all the money, when in fact it was only a partial gift.

The sin is that Ananias and Sapphira were trying to lie to God and to the faithful brothers and sisters in their community of believers. Their insides were not as clean as the outside. They were not being sincere and true in their faith.

Sometimes believers in our own faith community can be just as insincere. There can be times when we “perform” at church or in worship or in the community so that others might be impressed with how holy we are, when in fact our intentions are not true and Godly.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Is there a part of your faith life that should be more sincere?