You Did Not Lie To Us,
But To God!
But a
man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of
property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and
brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. “Ananias,” Peter asked,
“why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back
part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain
your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is
it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but
to God!” Now when Ananias heard these words, he feel down and died. And great
fear seized all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped up his body,
then carried him out and buried him.
After an
interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such
and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to
her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to
the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door,
and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and died.
When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and
buried her beside her husband. And great fear seized the whole church and all
who heard of these things.
Acts 5:1-11
There
should be no discrepancy between image and reality. Ananias and Sapphira had a
gap between what they were and what they wanted to appear to be. Satan filled
their hearts with a deceptive plan. They promised to turn the proceeds of the
sale of their land over to the Apostles. However, they gave them a portion,
while still telling them that it was the full share. They not only lied to the
Apostles, but to God. They wanted to be recognized as a generous couple, but
they were not what they appeared to be. This gap caused them to lie to the Holy
Spirit and to the faith community. They paid the price of death. Their example
stands as an example to us all.
What
discrepancies have we permitted in our lives? We must confess them and close
the gaps.
Integrity means never having to look over your shoulder.
Our Daily Bread – November 17, 2008