Friday, June 10, 2011

Honor God With Truth

There was also a man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, but he claimed it was the full amount. His wife had agreed to this deception. -- Acts 5:1-2

The property belonged to Ananias and his wife, Sapphira. They could do whatever they wanted with it, including selling it and putting the entire amount in their own pockets. But Ananias and Sapphira told everyone they would give the entire amount to the apostles. Except they didn’t. They only gave part of it.

They lied. And they didn’t just lie to the apostles. They lied to God. Bad mistake. Ananias and Sapphire paid for their deception with their lives. It really makes you wonder why they lied? Pride, maybe. Or, as Max Lucado pointed out, they wanted the to give the appearance of financial sacrifice without having to make the actual sacrifice.

I get so frustrated with people who lie, especially when there is no need other than them trying to make themselves look good. One woman I know loves to mislead people. She doesn’t seem to care that people believe something that isn’t true. In her mind, she hasn’t done anything wrong because “technically” she hasn’t lied.

It goes something like this: “I told her I would write a check for it. I don’t know where we’ll get the money but we’ll manage somehow.” The truth? She offered, knowing all along the offer would be rejected. She’s also better than comfortable financially. Did she lie or didn’t she? Where do you draw the line between deception and truth?

It comes back to the heart. Ananias and Sapphira intentionally withheld money they’d claimed to give so they would look better to other folks. As Peter asked Ananias, “why has Satan filled your heart?” There was no need for Ananias to lie. He could have told the truth. He was under no obligation to give anything, let alone all of the money from the sale.
So, when someone intentionally misleads someone, knowing that person will believe a lie, did the person lie? I believe she did. What about you? Would you feel like you’d been lied to? Would you feel like you had been lied about?

All of us make choices each day. Choose to honor God with your honesty and love for others.