Who’s On Your Heavenly Hall of Fame?

Hey, it’s just us here in this conversational huddle. About 40 years ago, I was ordained as a minister, so I can claim privilege in a courtroom and avoid disclosing anything we might talk about here. There are probably some things you don’t talk about with anybody, except for (or, perhaps, including) your marriage partner. Here’s a very personal question. Think about it before you answer: how would you feel about dying broke?

Here’s a possible answer you could propose: “It depends.” Some folks are broke because they mishandled their money, and some are broke because they have played out their plan to empty their pockets before they cash in their chips. Who would do that?

Denny Sanford almost pulled it off. His heart stopped about ten days ago – when he was 90 – but his generosity continued until he died. He was on a mission to die broke.

Born in Minneapolis, his mother died when he was four; his father when he was 20. A juvenile offender, he had a record before enrolling in and graduating from the University of Minnesota. He made an early investment in a local bank that opened the door to high-interest, subprime credit cards marketed to people with problems. Premier Bank offered a credit card with a 79.9% APR and a $300 limit, an offer deemed by Senator Bernie Sanders to be “an example of extortion and loan sharking.”

In 2006 Business Week magazine listed him as one of America’s 50 most generous people. In 2010, Sanford signed the Giving Pledge, vowing to give away his entire fortune during his lifetime. His contributions flowed into education and health care. In 2023, his name was removed from the Giving Pledge roster over allegations of possession of child pornography; he could no longer participate in events staged by and for the Giving Pledge. He gave about $4 billion away; at his death, he was still worth about $2.4 billion. His reputation, into the future: not so great. Maybe he did Die Broke…

It’s interesting that the concise history of the start of the church weaves the practicality of philanthropy into the narrative. Luke’s summation of the movement’s earliest days gives this insight: “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need” (Acts 4:32-25). The church was already healthy: the Apostles were preaching, and the members were giving. He didn’t stop there; Luke offered a couple of real-life examples as well.

The first was an all-star worth considering. From Acts 4:36-37: “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” That grant from Joseph was a game-changer for the church and a name-changer for him; ultimately, he was inducted into the Apostle category as Barnabas alongside Saul/Paul.

The story continued into Acts 5. The short version: a couple – Ananias and Sapphira – saw what Barnabas had done – and the invitation into the leadership that resulted – and created a plan to follow his lead. They inserted one variation: they sold a piece of property, diverted some of the proceeds to their personal accounts, and brought the remainder to give to the Kingdom.

It’s a story worth revisiting: in an effort to elevate their status alongside Barnabas, their deception led to their demise. Right there in church, the Spirit of God carried out swift justice and scheduled their funeral service(s) right after the morning services. “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events” (5:11).

God underscored two aspects of ministry that allowed the church to scale quickly into prominence: the preaching of the Apostles and the stewardship of the members joined forces for high impact. The mainstream givers were bringing cash contributions; the people with non-cash assets moved into action to provide some of the significant contributions that were foundational to their future.

Never forget: God has a high standard of holiness for everything done in His name. If you’re preaching, you’d better make sure it aligns with His truth, for His glory. And, if you’re giving, you’d better make sure that your heart is not compromised, and you’re giving for His glory.

Cheri and I are pretty selective about our choice of Bible heroes: for us, Barnabas is a memorable model for our stewardship efforts. And, Ananias and Sapphira are a reminder of how crazy we can become if earth money becomes more precious than Kingdom investments.