What If?
Acts 5:1-11
But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. “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? While 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!” Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter 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.” Then 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.” Immediately 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. And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.
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Introduction
American folklore tells of a man named Johnny Appleseed, who traveled across the northern states and into parts of Canada cultivating nurseries of apple trees and protecting God's creation. By no means did Johnny Appleseed live a life of luxury; instead, he lived with both hands wide open, giving freely. Opposite of Johnny Appleseed's generosity is the story of Ananias and Sapphira, who promise to share with open hands, yet end up giving with one hand extended and the other held shut behind their backs. Both instances involve people asking questions of "What if?" Life has a habit of asking "what if," especially when things get messy, and how we respond is a form of discipleship that reflects our faithfulness to God and ourselves.
What If?
Biblical commentaries often paint Ananias and Sapphira as twisted schemers who set out to put God to the test. Many commentaries will make it seem like the couple set out with evil intentions in an attempt to appear generous (following the distribution of goods from earlier) but trick the apostles out of the total amount they promised. However, we do not know the complete story of Ananias and Sapphira; we only hear a biased (or a selected) account, which most likely excludes the paralyzing “what if” conversations that kept them up at night as they decided what to do with the money they received from the sale of their property. Perhaps, like so often in life, Ananias and Sapphira did not set out with ill intent yet encountered the turbulence of life.
You know the "what if" conversation Ananias and Sapphira were having, even if you don't know them as such. These are the conversations where we wonder if we have enough to send our kids to a good school or if we have enough even to make ends meet. They are conversations about identity, and if we feel satisfied with what we are doing (you know) we can use what we have to pull back and focus on a new beginning and stop trying to please others. Ananias and Sapphira knew life under "what if" conditions; they lived under Roman occupation. We here and now know what that is like, to live with questions about what tomorrow will bring. And with each morning, we are allowed to respond with closed or open hands and hearts.
Giving Half
Ananias and Sapphira probably felt pressure to act in the same Spirit of generosity that had swept the early group of believers. Still, they might have told themselves, "Let's keep some to ourselves just in case. God wants me, wants us to take care of ourselves." That is part of what it means to give half-heartedly or to give with one hand open and one closed tightly behind our backs. It is when the "what ifs" overcome our ability to trust that God will provide; it is when the "what ifs" create a state of paralysis that keeps us from living in the light of the Spirit of God. And the consequences are catastrophic (lives and communities are at risk).
What should have us worried today is that Ananias and Sapphira didn't lose their lives because they held back some of the money from the property they sold; the disciples acknowledged that the money was Ananias and Sapphira's and that they had complete control over how it was spent. Ananias and Sapphira lost their lives because they lied to God. The discomfort we feel from this passage stems from the fact that we lie to God whenever we say that we are dedicated to following Jesus but end up holding back. God understands that life is complicated, yet when we pledge ourselves and withhold our talents, we negatively impact the community to which God called us. And we break the bond of community and the sacrament of neighbor.
Giving Fully
Living with one hand open and one held shut is the opposite of living with both hands open. As such, it was with the American legend of Johnny Appleseed (aka John Chapman). Papers described a man who traveled in hand-me-down clothes, wore a tin hat, carried a Bible, and walked barefoot while planting fruit trees and caring for God's creation. If there is anyone who should ask themselves "what if," it should be John Chapman, yet he decided to live a life open to spreading a message of ecological conservation and took what charity others offered him. Instead of hoarding what little he owned, John Chapman chose to live a life dedicated to a higher calling.
Extending both hands without restraint is a spiritual practice. It is an exercise in prayer and faith in action that invites us to dive wholeheartedly into living as a reflection of the heart of God. It is not that there will never be hardships or pains or trials, but God would rather not keep those things hidden and compensate by hiding our struggles. The point of living with open hands is that as we give our all, we also receive all in those times of need from God and our neighbors. And isn't that a part of what it means to be a disciple? Disciples are not people who have all the answers or resources, but they offer what they can and receive out of a spirit of abounding love and generosity with hands open wide.
Conclusion
As disciples of Christ, we, as the body of Christ, cannot maintain an iron grasp on the gifts and talents given to us by God. And I'm not just talking about money. Money is the clear illustration used in this passage. I'm also talking about our time, our skills, and our abilities to sing, speak, and act, in addition to the multiple ways in which we can be a community that supports one another. In what ways have we given half-heartedly, and in what ways have we lived with hands extended freely? How many times have we missed opportunities to build relationships with those around us because we selfishly thought that the gifts God gave us were for us and us alone?
"What if" should not be a question that leads to doubt but a question that leads to new and unexpected possibilities if we learn to trust God further.