Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Honoring God...Honestly

Tuesday, January 16, 2018
But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property.  He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount.  With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.  Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart?  You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.  The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished.  And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away.  How could you do a thing like this?  You weren’t lying to us but to God!”  As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died.  Everyone who heard about it was terrified.  Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.  About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”  “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”  And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this?  The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”  Instantly, she fell to the floor and died.  When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.  Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.  Acts 5:1-11(NLT)
This is one of the most chilling passages in Scripture.  Frankly, when it shows up in the Lectionary cycle I tend to want to skip over it.  I’d almost rather preach on Leviticus or any other passage that isn’t so controversial.

Think of the premise and how many ways this account of the early church can be misunderstood, misapplied, or cause an argument.  The whole scope of the intents of the human heart and character of humankind are on display. 

Ananias and his wife owned property and wanted to sell it.  As professing members of the early church they knew there was an expectation they would contribute to the needs of others from that sale.  They conspired to have their cake (people’s approval when they brought some of the money to the offering plate), but they wanted to eat the cake too!  So they decided to lie about the full price, and kept some back.

At this point some in our culture would be quick to point-out that it was their money; they could do with it what they wanted.  And, to an extent, this is true; the Apostle Peter even said as much.  The point was they were attempting to build themselves up in the sight of people while lying to God.  Peter said that also, confronting Ananias about Satan filling his heart with lies.  A side point would be that, as believers, disciples of Jesus Christ, no money is ours; it is all His, and we are stewards.

Others might point to the harsh outcome for the couple…well, geez…it was only a little bit they held back.  Why did God have to kill themAnd what about forgivenessIsn’t this about the God who forgives us?  The reality here is not about the size of Ananias’ and his wife’s lying.  After all, how much juggling of the books does there have to be before you’re an embezzler?  The issue is about honoring God…honestly.  You cannot honor God with a lie!

For You Today

Think for a moment about the football player on TV scoring a touchdown, and he then takes a knee, points to heaven, and gives God the glory.  We watch the hitter make the sign of the cross when the ball sails over the fence.  We see the witness place his hand on a Bible and solemnly swear…so help me God

You and I cannot possibly know what is in the hearts of others when we observe an outward witness of giving God the credit, or offering.  However, we do know what’s in our own hearts at such times.  And those are the times, and ours is the heart we must judge.  Are we truly giving God the glory, or are we tempted to bask just a little in the warmth of that praise?

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image: Pixabay.com

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