The Danger of Selfishness: A Lesson From The Early Church

In the early days of the Christian church, a powerful movement of unity and generosity swept through the community of believers. People were selling their possessions and bringing the proceeds to the apostles, ensuring that everyone's needs were met. This beautiful expression of love and sacrifice was a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel.

However, amidst this outpouring of generosity, a cautionary warning emerged – one that serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of selfishness and deception within the body of Christ.

The story of Ananias and Sapphira stands out as a sobering example of what can happen when we allow fear and self-interest to corrupt our hearts. This married couple sold a piece of property, much like others in the church had done. But unlike their fellow believers who gave everything, Ananias and Sapphira chose to keep back a portion of the proceeds for themselves.

Their sin wasn't in keeping some of the money – after all, the property was theirs to do with as they pleased. The real issue was their deception. They presented their partial offering as if it were the full amount, seeking the praise and admiration of others while holding back in their hearts.

This incident reveals a profound truth: the opposite of love is not hate, but selfishness. While hatred can certainly be an expression that opposes love, at its core, selfishness is the true antithesis of love. Love gives freely and generously, with an open hand and open arms. Selfishness, on the other hand, clings tightly with a closed fist, unwilling to fully surrender.

The apostle Peter, filled with divine insight, confronted Ananias about his deception. He asked a piercing question: "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?" This reveals another crucial aspect of the spiritual life – we are constantly being filled by something. The question is, what are we allowing to fill us?

Throughout the early chapters of Acts, we see a recurring theme of believers being filled with the Holy Spirit. But here, for the first time, we encounter someone filled instead by the influence of Satan. This stark contrast serves as a warning to all believers: what we allow to fill our hearts will ultimately drive our decisions and actions.

Fear seems to have been the primary motivator behind Ananias and Sapphira's deception. They feared how they might be perceived if they didn't appear as generous as others. This fear led them to compromise their integrity and ultimately brought severe consequences.

The story takes a shocking turn when both Ananias and Sapphira fall dead after their deception is exposed. While this may seem like a harsh judgment to our modern sensibilities, it underscores the seriousness with which God views sin and deception within His church. It also highlights the importance of maintaining both a devoted love for God and a healthy fear (or reverence) of Him.

This incident serves as a reminder that God is not only a loving Father but also a righteous King. He is worthy of our deepest affection and our utmost respect. When we lose sight of either aspect of His nature, we become vulnerable to compromise and self-deception.

The early church's response to this event is telling: "Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events." This wasn't a paralyzing terror, but rather a renewed sense of awe and reverence for the holiness of God. It led to a deepening of faith and a purification of the community.

As we reflect on this sobering account, we're challenged to examine our own hearts. Are we fully surrendered to God, or are we holding back areas of our lives in selfishness? Are we more concerned with how others perceive us than with living in genuine obedience to Christ?

The good news is that God's heart toward us is always one of love and redemption. Psalm 139 reminds us that His thoughts toward us are precious and more numerous than the grains of sand on the seashore. When we truly grasp the depth of God's love for us, it frees us from the need to impress others or hold onto things in fear.

Living in the fullness of God's love also involves embracing community. Ananias and Sapphira made their fateful decision in isolation. How different might things have been if they had sought counsel from fellow believers? This underscores the importance of authentic Christian community where we can encourage one another, speak truth in love, and help each other grow in faith.

As we navigate our own spiritual journeys, we must be mindful of what – or who – is filling us. Are we allowing ourselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit, leading to lives characterized by power, love, and sound judgment? Or are we susceptible to being filled with fear, selfishness, and deception?

The apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment." This is the kind of Spirit-filled life we're called to embrace – one that is marked by courage, compassion, and wisdom.

Let us take to heart the lessons from this cautionary moment in the history of the early church. May we cultivate hearts that are fully surrendered to God, free from the grip of selfishness and fear. Let us live with open hands and open hearts, ready to give generously and love authentically.

As we do so, we'll find ourselves participating in a movement of grace that's far greater than ourselves – a community of believers who, filled with the Spirit of God, are transforming the world through sacrificial love and unwavering faith.