THE PRICE PAID
Opening Prayer
Thank you, Father, for the Holy Spirit, who showed me who you are and enables me to make him known to others.
Read ACTS 5:1–11
Ananias and Sapphira
5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 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.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth (Psalm 96:9). Take time to follow this command, beginning in silence and moving to open-hearted praise.Two gifts were brought to God, both placed at the apostles’ feet. But, as in the case of Cain and Abel, one gift was acceptable, the other questionable, and catastrophe ensued. Barnabas gave freely, holding nothing back. Ananias and Sapphira sold property but were under no obligation to give all the proceeds to the community (v. 4). To pretend they were giving everything in a public show at the apostles’ feet lacked integrity. That might have seemed a minor offense, but not in a community where, behind its public affairs, spiritual forces of incalculable power were operating. The deceit was not just fooling the church, it was opening a space for Satan to fill (v. 3), lying to God (v. 4), testing out the Spirit of the Lord (v. 9). The future of the new Christian community was at stake. Would it be a place that took holiness seriously? A community where fear of offending God guided their every action?
Followers of Jesus are called to be perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48), to root out sin and refuse it entry. A lackadaisical attitude to sin corrupts the whole community of believers. Adam and Eve’s sin had a devastating effect on humanity. This story echoes that rebellion and warns of dire consequences.
Apply
How comfortable are you in trusting the leaders of your church to use your offerings in ways they feel led?
Closing prayer
Examine my heart, Lord God, and show me where there is any lack of integrity or sincerity. Let nothing stand in the way of my pleasing you.
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