Acts 4:23-37
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
I love to teach on Christian stewardship. For it is not about raising money, but raising people who recognize that all they have comes from God and that all of life is a matter of stewarding the gifts, resources, and opportunities God gives us. We are as much a steward when we go to the grocery store or enjoy a bottle of wine, or buy a new electronic gadget. This text is very much about money and the attempted dangerous deceit of the Holy Spirit, and, therefore also a profound lesson about Christian stewardship.
Peter’s asks Ananias, “While [the land] remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?” This is a telling question. We are stewards who give freely, not under compulsion. We are entrusted with the privilege and responsibility to manage/steward all that we have for God’s purposes. We are not owners. But we are not indentured servants. What we have is ours to manage and use, for our own good and the good of others. We honor God not only when we tithe, giving the first fruits to God, when we help our neighbor, and when we care for our family and provide for our needs. We even honor God when we enjoy times of refreshment – whether through vacations, a night out, or a day in the park (when the weather allows it!).
But we do not honor God when we put on a show of our generosity, or try to pull the wool over God’s or others’ eyes seeking to impress people rather than bless them.
I love the insights offered by the Five Capitals teachings. I’ll share more about that tomorrow. And while financial capital is the least impactful and least important of the five capitals (Spiritual, Relational, Physical, Intellectual, and Financial), it is of vital importance. God cares about how we use our financial resources. Freely using all we have for his glory – sharing our wealth and giving to the church for the sake of his Kingdom’s goals – honors him and blesses others. Ananias wanted to honor himself and deceive others. That is truly the work of the devil and a dangerous path of life.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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