No Honor without Sacrifice
Acts 5:1-11 (NIV) 1 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.
When I read of the account of Ananias and Sapphira, I am reminded of the scripture from Numbers 32 that says, “be sure your sin will find you out.” Why was it a sin for this couple to keep some of the money from the sale of their own land? Their sin was not a financial issue, but a heart issue. It was not a need issue, but a greed issue. Ananias and Sapphira did not just lie to Peter, they lied to God. During a time when the Church was so vulnerable this couple attempted to take honor for their contribution that was not deserved.
God’s punishment of this couple was swift and leaves us wondering why. Why were they not given a less severe penalty? Why were they not given a chance to repent? It is so easy for us to forget the omniscience of God, isn’t it? Perhaps He saw that such a deceitful act could permeate the young church, damaging both its momentum and its reputation.
May we be more concerned with being honest before God than receiving honor from men.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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