The Power of Example (Acts 4:36-5:11)

Having heard the saying, “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day,” for much of my life, I think I understand the importance of setting the right example as we go through life in its various stages. The Bible also emphasizes the value of example, citing Jesus (1 Pet. 2:21), Paul (1 Cor. 11:1; Phil. 3:17), Timothy (1 Tim. 4:12), elders (1 Pet. 5:3), and the lives of disciples (Matt. 5:16). My earliest examples were my parents, who taught me as much by the way they lived as they did by telling me I needed to learn some lesson. 

With that in mind, a sequence of events from the early days of the church is informative and provides a reminder of how much influence an example may have, for good and for bad. As Luke described the earliest days of the church, he told of two instances of people who did the same thing, but with different motives and different outcomes. 

After he had described the church as providing for the poor among them because they were “one in heart and mind,” he explained that on occasion members would sell property they owned and then give the money to the apostles, “and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” As a result, no one was needy. 

One example of that generosity was a man named Joseph, who was from Cyprus but lived in Jerusalem. The apostles knicknamed him Barnabas, which Luke explains, means “Son of Encouragement.” He sold a field and brought the money to the apostles, living up to his name. 

His example taught more than a sermon would have. 

But immediately following this episode, Luke relates the opposite kind of example in the case of a married couple, Ananias and Sapphira. Apparently desiring the good name of Barnabas, but without the same generous heart, they sold some land, kept part of the proceeds, but portrayed to the apostles they were giving all the money to help the needy. 

Because they had agreed to “test the Spirit if the Lord,” both were put to death by the Spirit in the presence of the church. Predictably, Luke says that “great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.” 

Here is a reminder of at least two things that are important for the church. One is the truth that sin is active in the church just as much as in the world because humans are involved in it. Jesus’ parable of the enemy sowing weeds in the wheat field is an example. History is filled with instances of evil being done in the name of the church, promting many to deny the saving power of the gospel. As English essayist and poet Robert Southey once observed, "I would like Jesus just fine if he didn’t have 'his leprous bride the church' following behind him." It is the negative power of influence. 

The other lesson is that the Lord always knows our motives in everything we do. It is possible to do the right things for the wrong reason or the wrong motives, and the consequences will bring additional suffering, if not now, then when we meet him. We must never forget that someone is watching us all the time, and our actions may help or hurt their efforts to do what is right.