Acts 2:44-46 And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other, selling their possessions and dividing with those in need. They worshiped together regularly at the Temple each day, met in small groups in homes for Communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness, praising GOD. [Living Bible translation]
Acts 5:1-3; 5 But a man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the HOLY SPIRIT and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?...You have not lied to men but to GOD.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. [Revised Standard translation]
DISCUSSION
The book of Acts, also called “The Acts of the Apostles,” describes the actions and sufferings of the Apostles after the ascension of JESUS CHRIST. Luke, known as the beloved physician (See Colossians 14:4), wrote the Book of Acts as well as the Gospel According to Luke. Both books (Luke and Acts) were written to the same individual, who was named or had the honorary title of “Theophilus,” which means “one who loves GOD.” (Luke 1:4 and Acts:1:1). Theophilus was probably a Gentile. As Luke explains in his letters to Theophilus, the purpose of writing these two books was so that Theophilus (the receiver of these letters) “might know the certainty (the truth) of those things wherein he had been instructed.” (See, Luke 1:4). Luke was not only “trying to make it plain” but given all the rumors about JESUS and the disciples and what was viewed in those days as a renegade religion (i.e. Christianity), Luke wanted to make sure that Theophilus also “knew the truth.”
In the Gospel According to Luke, Luke told Theophilus about the life and ministry of JESUS. In The Book of Acts, Luke continues the history of Christianity. Acts is rich with details, describing the ascension of JESUS (Acts:1:6-11); the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT on the day on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:12); Peter’s Pentecostal sermon (Acts 2:14); the communal life of the early church (Acts 2:44-46); and numerous conversions (Simon the sorcerer’s conversions (Acts 8); Saul’s conversion (Acts 9):the conversion of the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26); the conversion of Lydia (Act 16:11); the conversion of the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:25) and others.) Acts describes the action and power of the HOLY SPIRIT on the lives ordinary men and women so that they did extraordinary things and became the church.
The story of Ananias and Sapphira in the 5th chapter of Acts is both a simple and complex story. It is worthy of a number of Sunday School lessons. Some might characterize it as a lesson on lying. Others might characterize it a lesson on giving. Still others might characterize it as a lesson on finance planning. Some of our ancestors might characterize it as a lesson on what not to do and of the importance of “not giving for form or fashion.” Some might liken this to another “Garden of Eden” lesson.
Some might even characterize the story of Ananias and Sapphira as a story about a spiritual “heart attack”--how the hearts of a husband and wife were so out of sync with the HOLY SPIRIT, they experience spiritual separation (i.e., a spiritual “stroke”) and died. The deaths of this couple might be characterized as a “spiritual tragedy,” because these deaths could have been prevented, had Ananias and Sapphira acted differently.
HEART HEALTH
Many American would be surprised to learn that their hearts may be older than they are. A Center for Disease Control (CDC) recent report showed that the average heart age for adult U.S. men was about eight years older than their chronological age and about five years older for U.S. women. The study noted that there were geographic differences in the heart ages across states. Americans living in Mississippi, West Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana and Alabama have the highest percentage of adults with a heart age 5 years or more than their actual age, while those living in Utah, Colorado, California, Hawaii and Massachusetts have some of the lowest percentages. The reason why many Americans’ hearts age can be inconsistent or out of sync with their chronological age is often because of their own actions.
The CDC estimates the age of a heart based on risk factors such as high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and obesity. According to the CDC, having a heart older than your chronological puts you at higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke. A person can lower their heart age, and thus reduce their risk for heart attack and stroke, by eating healthier, taking appropriate medication, exercising, stopping smoking and managing diabetes.
It is estimated that approximately 69 million U. S. adults, who have a heart age that is five or more years older than their chronological age, are at risk for heart issues. It is also estimated that 75% of heart attacks and strokes are due to risk factors that increase a person’s heart age.
According to Barbara A. Bowman, Ph.D., director of the CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention:
“About three in four heart attacks and strokes are due to risk factors that increase heart age, so it’s important to continue focusing on efforts to improve heart health and increase access to early and affordable detection and treatment resources nationwide.”
The CDC has provided an on online heart age calculator so that individuals can input information to determine their heart age. Individuals can then use this information to start a dialogue with their personal physician about what action they might take to improve their heart age. See, http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2015/p0901-heart-age.html. The CDC website also has information about heart disease. The more people learn the better they will be able to prevent future heart attacks or strokes from occurring. The CDC also has a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. All of us can participate in this call to action.
SPIRITUAL HEART HEALTH
Careful examination before eating is important---whether you are taking communion (see 1Corinthians 11:28) or eating a daily meal. If you are eating a daily meal, examine what you are eating carefully and ask yourself: “Is this really good for my heart.” If not, don’t eat. Act differently. You should also consider whether you have performed enough exercise for your heart. Ask yourself if you exercised enough today? If not, take action. Do it for your children, your spouse, your family, your friends, your church and your state. Do it for your heart. If you have questions or concerns ask your personal physician to help you establish an exercise program that is right for you.
As the story of Ananias and Sapphira demonstrates, spiritual health and spiritual integrity are important. We should examine ourselves when we give, when we work in the church, when we work on the job, serve others or receive service from others. We should all ask if our hearts and minds are in alignment with the HOLY SPIRIT. Do we have the CHRISTIAN spirit? Are we GODLY ambassadors? We can all take action to ensure our words and our actions are in sync with GOD’s WORD.
Wednesday is a day for reading THE WORD, prayer, examination and action. Let the HOLY SPIRIT guide you today. Take action and BE BLESSED!
