Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 5:3-4
“Whenever anyone brings anything to sons or relations who reside in the monastery, an article of clothing, or anything else that is considered necessary, the gift is not to be pocketed on the sly but given to the superior as common property, so that it can be given to whoever needs it.”
Augustine of Hippo in The Rule of St. Augustine 5.3. The text of the rule is adapted from George Lawless’ translation in Augustine of Hippo and His Monastic Rule (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1987), included in Constitutions of the Order of Preachers (Dublin: Dominican Publications, 2012).
God sees everything. When He saw the sin on the sly of Ananias and Sapphira, He acted swiftly to send the church a message. I think most have missed it the message and continue to pocket on the sly.
I am not saying I am perfect here. Goodness, I will log in as chief of sinners. What’s key here is that keeping possessions for ourselves is not God’s design or desire. He knows whatever we hold on to gets a hold on to us.
So, Augustine urged everyone who followed his rule to see everything, including gifts, as common property. Every good and perfect gift comes from God for our enjoyment and sharing, not our keeping.
Giving is possible coupled with keeping, but it’s not generosity, in the biblical sense of the word. Generosity only happens when we serve as conduits of material and spiritual blessings.
God, forgive me for pocketing on the sly and teach me to see everything as common because You own it all. Amen.