Little Lie, Little Sin?
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, I marvel at Your massive love and abiding patience. I am lost in wonder, love and praise.
Read Acts 5:1–11
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.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
The account of Ananias and Sapphira raises serious questions for us today. Do we harbor a misconception of God’s forbearance for sin, just because we do not see people experience similar, instant judgment?
We do not know what proportion of the proceeds from the sale of their property this lying couple gave to the church, but it would no doubt arouse immediate suspicion if they gave only a little and pretended it was 100 percent. Even if they had given 95 percent, however, it counted for nothing before the Lord. It is not the market value of our gift that determines its intrinsic worth before God but the predisposition of our heart.
Standing together with a common mind as husband and wife is commendable, but not when the two agree together to do evil. Rather, the couple should inspire each other to holy living. Should one partner propose that they take the forbidden fruit, as happened in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:11–12), the other has a responsibility to do everything in their power to keep the family in the path of righteousness.
Peter equates lying to the church with lying to the Holy Spirit (3,9) and to God (4); and for this sin both husband and wife received capital punishment. It is not as if Peter ordered them to be stoned to death. This was a direct intervention by the One who gives life and has the right to take it. The question for us is: what has changed? We lie and cheat in church and outside church, but God does not strike anyone dead when we take communion (cf. 1 Cor. 11:27–30)! Is he more tolerant of sin now than in the days of Ananias and Sapphira? Most certainly not! The more likely reason is that he patiently waits for us to repent, not willing that anyone should perish (2 Pet. 3:9).
Apply
Do any Christians who are close to you live in a manner that dishonors the Lord, in flagrant or subtle ways? What should you be doing to help them?
Closing prayer
Almighty God, I am reminded that Barnabas was swayed of the Holy Spirit, but Ananias and Sapphira were influenced by Satan. Spirit of God, I surrender myself anew to You.
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