commitment and integrity

Good morning friends,
This morning's reading shows us that even the amazing community of the early church wasn't perfect. We read yesterday that no one in the church was needy because everyone shared their property completely. In today's reading we see, not surprisingly, that this kind of commitment was hard for some in the community. We don't know much about Ananias and Sapphira, but like others in the community they sold a piece of property and laid the proceeds at the apostles' feet to show they were sharing what they had. But they only brought part of the price of the sale; they held back some of it for themselves.

Peter's rebuke is revealing: he reminds Ananias that the field was his and he was free to do whatever he wanted. In other words, while Acts tells us that everyone shared everything, that sharing was voluntary. Christians shared what they had because they wanted to, but they didn't have to. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira starts with selfishness, but the deadly part of the sin is lying to God, not holding something back. Presumably, if they had come and told the church they were bringing part of the sale price they would have survived.

Commitment begins in love and demands integrity. To deepen our commitment to our faith and our community we need to truly love God and love the community. Then we need to be honest with ourselves and with God about what we're willing to give and what we still hold back.
May God guide us to live this week with integrity,
Sam

Acts 5:1-11

But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3“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? 4While 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!” 5Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him. 7After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8Peter 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.” 9Then 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.” 10Immediately 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. 11And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.