Generous to a Fault

New Living Translation Chapter 5

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.

3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.

7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”

“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”

9 And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”

10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.

Introduction

Generous to a fault. What does this look like? How can a person be generous to a fault? Can a person be too generous? Is there something wrong with being too generous? How can generosity get to a point of being a fault? These are real questions that rise to the surface of this text.

The Oxford English Dictionary says that "to a fault" means "to such an extent that it becomes a fault; excessively, extremely." The person who is generous to a fault is one who carries generosity so far that it almost amounts to a flaw or weakness.

I. The Actions of Ananias & Sapphira (5:1-2)

used to introduce a phrase or clause contrasting with what has come before or with what is expected

Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, eds., Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).

Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, eds., Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).

II. The Confrontation by the Apostle Peter (5:3-4, 7-9)

III. The Ramifications for Ananias/Sapphira’s Actions (5:5-6, 10)

Repercussion means an unintended consequence occurring some time after an event or action, especially an unwelcome one.

IV. The Reaction of the Church (5:11)