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Hidden wealth

“...why did you let Satan take control of you and make you lie to the Holy Spirit by keeping part of the money you received for the property? ...You have not lied to men — you have lied to God” — Acts 5:3-4

Some contemporary experiences

One of the most significant lessons we should learn from EDSA I, EDSA II, and the political crises dividing our country today is the fact that no amount of material wealth could ever provide anyone genuine and lasting security in this very insecure world of ours.

The late Pres. Marcos, his wife and cronies allegedly amassed enormous wealth during almost two decades of running the country that even up to now the Presidential Commission on Good Government has difficulty uncovering and much more, getting them back. Then, Pres. Estrada was also ousted from power due to allegations that he, too, accumulated huge amount of money from jueteng payolas hidden behind the so-called Jose Velarde Account. And now, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and members of her family are also accused of receiving jueteng payolas hidden behind the so-called Jose Pidal Account. This is not to mention the various government officials in responsible positions accused of hidden unexplained wealth now being exposed.

However, the practice of hoarding or hiding much needed material resources supposed to be shared is not only confined among the powers-that-be. It is also happens among ordinary people. For instance, the way people respond to calamities that visit our country is quite revealing. People in calamity-stricken areas often complain that prices of commodities are so high because of hoarding and overpricing. In some cases, much needed goods and commodities vanished from the stores, then returned with new price tags.

All these contemporary historical experiences show us the fact that when the final reckoning comes, no amount of hidden wealth could ever save our life. Jesus Christ our Lord is indeed right when he said, “For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?”(Mk.8:36-37). However, it seems that we have not really learned by heart this simple lesson of history. Our memories as a people seem to be too short to remember these things.

Life situation of the early church

If today we talk about hoarding and hiding much needed material resources, the Early Christians in Jerusalem also had their own story to tell. The Book of Acts tells us about a case of hidden wealth in the Early Church, particularly in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 5:1-11). It is important to listen to their story and glean some insights for our learning, so that our own stories in the making would not be repetitions of the tragedy that befell the Jerusalem Christians.

To understand their story, let us look into the life situation of the Early Christians. One of their primary concerns at that time was to care for the needs of their less fortunate brothers and sisters in the faith. As a matter of fact, it was out of this genuine concern for the poor and the needy among them that they started sharing with one another their belongings and everything they had. Through the sharing of material possessions, they were able to survive the onslaughts of a very hostile world.

Luke, the historian and writer of the Book of Acts, described the life of the Early Christians in this manner: “The group of believers,” he said, “was one in mind and heart. No one said that any of his belongings was his own, but they all shared with one another everything they had. With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God poured rich blessings on them all. There was no one in the group who was in need. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale, and turn it over to the apostles; and the money was distributed to each one according to his need” (Acts 4:32-35).

The life experiences of the Early Christians seem to be saying to us that in a period of crisis like ours the hope for economic survival lies in the creation of a genuine spirit of sharing and concern for each other.

A case of hidden wealth

It is presumed that the Early Christians were expected to reveal their financial status at least to the leaders of the Christian community. In other words, the Apostles wanted transparency in the life of every Christian believer. This was necessary both for proper planning and for the prevention of imprudent generosity that might create more poverty than it would eliminate. It is also presupposed that the disciples were not really obliged to sell all they owned. And if they did sell anything, they were not also obliged to give up all the proceeds.

However, there was a man named Barnabas who sold a field he owned and turned over the money to the Apostles. Such gesture of generosity naturally became the object of believers’ admirations. Among the members, a couple by the name of Ananias and Sapphira also wanted to be honored and acknowledged like that of Barnabas. And so they sold some of their properties, turned over the money to the Apostles, but they kept some of it for themselves. Keeping or hiding much needed material resources in a crisis situation is the height of human selfishness and greed.

The sin of Ananias and Sapphira did not consist merely in keeping part of their wealth. As a matter of fact, nobody forced them to sell their property and give the money to the Apostles for distribution to those in need. They could in fact keep or hide all their money for themselves if they wanted to. But the problem was that they desperately desired to be like that of Barnabas without the sacrifices involved.

And so they tried to deceive the Apostles and the whole Christian community by making an impression that they were giving everything they had when it fact they kept part of their money. In other words, they tried to fake one of the greatest signs of the Holy Spirit, which is total surrender, a total offering or giving of oneself. In this particular instance, lying was used not only to hide material wealth, but also to hide the truth.

Lying is a grave sin against the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is a spirit of truth. Take note, however, that one may be able to hide wealth or even truth itself, but certainly one cannot hide from truth. Truth will always come out in due time.

The Moment of Truth

Then, the moment of truth had come. The story goes that Apostle Peter confronted Ananias and said to him, “Ananias, why did you let Satan take control of you and make you lie to the Holy Spirit by keeping part of the money you received for the property? Before you sold the property, it belongs to you; and after you sold it, the money was yours. Why, then, did you decide to do such a thing? You have not lied to men – you have lied to God!”(vs.3-4).

As soon as Ananias heard this, he fell down dead; and all who heard about it were terrified. About three hours later his wife, not knowing what happened, came in. Peter asked her, “Tell me, was this the full amount you and your husband received for the property?” “Yes,” she answered, “the full amount.” So Peter said to her, “Why did you and your husband decide to put the Lord’s Spirit to the test? The men who buried your husband are at the door now, and they will carry you out too!” At once she fell down at his feet and died. The whole church and all the others who heard of this were terrified.

Truly, the Christian community is also a human institution. It has its own limitations and shortcomings. The story of Ananias and Sapphira shows that even in the Early Church there were also imperfect Christians in the same manner that we also have them today. But then, we must also bear in mind that the Christian community is not merely a human institution; it has the element of the divine. The church is united to God in the Holy Spirit. And therefore any offense against the people of God is also a sin against God.

Perhaps, the mistake of Ananias and his wife is the fact that they acted as though Peter and the other disciples formed a merely human organization. To Ananias and his wife, there was nothing divine about the Christian community. That is why Peter exclaimed, “You have not lied to men – you have lied to God!”

The story of Ananias and Sapphira ended in their tragic death. We may raise questions as to the suddenness of their death. Of course, we know for a fact that today a person can die suddenly due to heart attack. But we are not categorically saying that Ananias and his wife, indeed, suffered a heart attack. What we are simply saying is that medical science could now explain why a person would die suddenly. In any case, the couple’s sudden death points to the fact that their sin was very serious, indeed.

Of course, we must be careful when we speak of God’s punishment. Death itself does not necessarily mean that God wants to punish us, although the Scripture says, “The wages of sin is death”(Rom.6:23). God’s will for humanity is life and not death. Death has come to us as a consequence of sin. But nevertheless, the sudden death of Ananias and his wife served as a warning and a sign for others to remember.

The story of Ananias and Sapphira could have been deleted from the pages of Christian history, because it had put the Early Christian community in a very bad light. But thanks be to God that the story has been preserved to serve as a startling reminder and a serious warning to all Christians at all times and in all places, that never again will the story of Ananias and Sapphira be repeated in the life of a Christian community or a Christian nation, like ours. #

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