Detractors have often described the Lord’s church as governed by socialist … or even communist principles. They’ll point to verses like Acts 4:32 as proof, “… no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.” In heaven, we are ruled by a benevolent monarchy with the King of Kings on the throne, but on earth do our possession really belong to the church and its leaders, forcing us to give, decide how to distribute them all?
I. Acts 5:1-14. Wanting to look good to their brothers and sisters in Christ, Ananias and Sapphira “lied” to God and pretended to give the full amount for property they sold while keeping back part for themselves. Peter expresses that when it was unsold, it was their own, and when it was sold, it was at their disposal. This tells us that the church was not forcing Christians to give, but that it was an internal decision each made to be a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9).
II. 2 Peter 1:3-8. Restored to His image because of Christ’s work in the gospel, Christians should desire to be like Jesus and to walk like Him in every way. God gives us the opportunity to participate in His divine nature and escape the corruption of the world by continually adding virtues to ourselves. Being generous and honest (2 Corinthians 8) in our giving, like the Macedonians in character, will help us not to be ineffective and unfruitful in His kingdom.
III. Matthew 5:13-16. Because God made an example of Ananias and Sapphira, fear of God gripped the church and the a harvest of souls occurred. It’s so easy today to live as a version of the world (1 John 2:15) while deceiving your fellow Christians, but we can not become salt without flavor! Instead, we must be light on a hill for all to see, so glory and thanksgiving will go to our God.
Is your thanks-living resulting in thanksgiving?