Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

II. Some ApplicationsA. Their Character1. what kind of character leads people to do what Ananias and Sapphira did?2. they were, in fact, generous in their actions, but miserly in their spirit, for they wanted the kind ofcredit that Barnabas received, but did not recognize that Barnabas was praised because he did not seekpraise and was honest in his sacrifice3. Ananias and Sapphira were more like the Pharisees than the Son of Encouragement (Matthew6:1-4)a. when we are being generous, either with the weekly collection plate, charities, neighbors, orchildren, the reward of being Christ-like ought to be sufficient, so that we don’t have to make sureeveryone around us knows how good we areb. it is pride that sometime embarrasses our beneficiary which compels us to publicize ourgenerosity; instead of being content with an investment of treasure in heaven, we demand a pat on theback or a warm smile of admiration, and such self-service ruins what should have been a selfless sacrifice4. here is where we must not let our left hand know what our right hands is doing by being discreet;all we can do is our duty anywayB. The Goodness and Severity of God1. the church that claimed Ananias and Sapphira as members was very young and communicationbetween God and man had only recently intensified after 400 years of silence in between the testaments2. when a small part of that church threatened God’s sovereignty, the entire group needed an objectlesson in the holiness of the Almighty, as well as his omniscience and omnipotence3. and so we are forced to behold the harder side of the goodness and severity of Goda. we are naturally drawn to the goodness–creation, the cross, Heaven, but are sometimesrepulsed by thoughts of the severity that must accompany it–the punishment of the wicked and unbelieverb. it is rare in the Bible that God is so quickly severe with his children, but it happens so thatothers might learn and not drift toward the same end at a much later date4. we have been grafted into the family tree of Abraham and Jesus Christ through the goodness ofGod, but his severity is there to remind us that we can be pruned away if our character devolves to thelevel of this carnal couple (Romans 11:19-22)a. God is a consuming fire, who yearns to save all men, but is resigned to the fact that only arelative few will find eternal life by accepting his grace through faithb. those who do not know him and those who simply refused to obey the gospel will alike belost to the severity of God forever5. the severity of God is not like the severity of a modern dictator–a butcher like Saddam Husseinor Adolf Hitler, who extended mercy only to a chosen few and gloried in tormenting all othersa. the severity of God is a last resort when love and truth have been rejected (SecondThessalonians 2:9-12)C. Giving1. Jesus taught, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) and this applies toeverything you can give and however you can give ita. it applies to money, time, compassion, encouragement and loveb. it applies to the weekly collection, alms on the street and sacrifices for your neighbor2. the ability to give should find joy in the opportunity to share (Second Corinthians 9:5-8)3. giving is necessary to maintaining our own character, for when we have but will not share, we areperhaps even worse than Ananias and Sapphira (Titus 3:14, First Timothy 6:17-19)4. just as attitude ruined the sacrifice of Ananias and Sapphira, so can it ruin our giving today, whenwe grumble and complain or promote our generosity before othersD. Fear God1. the object lesson God taught through this unfortunate couple is the same one he taught throughthe brothers, Nadab and Abihu–“By those who come near [God], [he] must be regarded as holy; Andbefore all the people [he] must be glorified” (Leviticus 10:3).2. it remains the duty of man to fear God and keep his commandments, but sadly the execution ofAnanias and Sapphira only continues to influence the very pious Bible student today100! Jeff S. Smith