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“Bad news travels like wildfire; Good news travels slow.” At least that is what was claimed in the lyrics of a popular song a while back. Actually, there might be reason to take exception to this maxim. Let’s see if that might not be the case.

I would say that the death of a relatively wealthy and respected couple was bad news, wouldn’t you? Well, this was an event that occurred in the Church in Jerusalem early in its existence. A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property they owned and donated to the church what they professed to be the entire proceeds from the sale. The problem in this event came from the fact that they had conspired to sell the land and lie about the size of the deal, keeping part of it back for themselves while gaining the respect of the believers by saying they had given all. In other words, they lied in order to bolster their image in the minds of their fellow believers!

This first instance of blatant sin and conspiracy in the church was met with swift and severe punishment. I suppose we cannot be too certain about why God reacted as He did, but it seems that He simply did not want anyone to get the impression that it was all right to lie about such things and get away with it. Whatever the cause, before the day was out, they were both dead and buried as a result of their sin. Bad news? Maybe it depends in how you look at it!

Luke, the flawless historian, wrote the following immediately after these events: “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.” (Acts 5.11-13). Two opposite and contrasting reactions occurred as a result of the death of Ananias and Sapphira. These reactions are our focal point for the rest of today’s message.

First, Luke says that “…none of the rest dared join them.” Though there is some dispute as to who this is speaking of, it appears to mean the “rich and famous.” If this is the way the wealthy were going to be treated, they hastened to rethink their notion to join the disciples! The praise of man is a mighty motivating force, but if it was to be met with this outcome, one could hardly blame them for their reluctance. As much as anything else, it reveals the condition of heart of those who were so motivated.

So the “bad news” resulted in a positive outcome. It prevented the half-converted from feigning their faith merely to be praised by others. It also garnered the respect of the common people. Specifically, Luke says, “The people esteemed them highly.” I take this to mean that those who were not of the “rich and famous” class saw such purity of heart and mind as a giant plus. Perhaps they were sick of the duplicity that so often accompanies public leaders. This reaction is reminiscent of how the birth of the church was a bit earlier. It was said that the disciples were “…praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2.47).

A similar reaction in Acts 5 signals the fact that good news can also travel like wildfire. “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women…” (Acts 5.14). While the bad news (i.e., we could die) frightened some off, the good news (i.e., there is real purity of heart among the disciples of Christ) attracted multitudes of others. It isn’t whether it is good news or bad news that should be our focus, it is whether we are doing good or evil that should attract the most attention!

Questions:

1. What was the sin of Ananias and Sapphira? Did they have the right to keep part of the sale price of the land? Why did they state that they had not?

2. Had the sin of Ananias and Sapphira gone unpunished, what would have resulted to the integrity of the faith? What impact would have this have had on the believers?

3. Why did some refuse to join the believers? Why did multitudes of others flock to their numbers?

4. Regardless of what others did, was it right or wrong for Ananias and Sapphira to do what they did? Regardless of what others did, should the church have been purged of such sins? So what does classing a thing as good news or bad news have to do with what is right?

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

The Best Ace