The Essential Question (Part 3): The Church Is PersecutedSample

Lying to God

Prepare: Spend a few minutes thanking God for the ways he has blessed you in your life. What things are you most grateful for?

Read: Acts 5:1-16

Reflect: Over the years I've been asked many times to make "the pitch" at fundraising banquets. I usually begin by saying, "Well, we've had a great evening so far, but now it's time for the Sermon on the Amount." It always gets a chuckle and lightens the mood for my request. That's not what happened in this passage. After the news about Ananias and Sapphira spread, no one was laughing (5:11).

But aside from the sensational aspect of this account, our current passage gives us a glimpse into a reality of the early church that we have not yet seen. Satan was at work in the midst of the incredible birth and growth of the church (5:3). This story is a reminder that even when God is on the move, and even when we are clearly making a difference for him, we are vulnerable to the strategies of the enemy and we need to be on our guard (1 Peter 5:8-9). So what temptations led to the downfall of this "major donor" church couple?

First, they cared more about image than reality. Ananias was trying to act like he was making an all-out sacrificial gift when in fact he was protecting his own bank account. He wanted to look like Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37) while acting like Judas (John 12:4-6). As Peter pointed out, the issue wasn't the size of the gift. Rather, it was Ananias's premeditated attempt to appear to be someone he wasn't. That's lying to God (Acts 5:4).

Second, Ananias and Sapphira loved money and possessions. There is nothing inherently wrong with money. We need it to live. But it is an incredibly powerful temptation (1 Timothy 6:10). Why? Because it draws out of the human heart the desire for power and happiness on our own terms instead of God's. The discipline of sacrificial giving helps protect us from the love of money and keeps our hearts free and open for God's leading.

The silver lining to this tragedy is that it seems to have produced a healthy fear of God in the church (Acts 5:5, 11). I was once in a Bible study with a man who had a big problem with the concept of fear of God. For him it conjured up an image of a mean, angry deity that required humans to cower. Fear God…. or else! But a biblical understanding has more to do with respect, awe, obedience and love for the maker of heaven and earth. That's what the experience regarding Ananias and Sapphira produced in these early believers, and it led to a new season of growth and ministry in the church (Acts 5:12-16).

Apply: Think of something other than money you could give to someone who needs it. Then offer to give it away, no strings attached. Afterward, jot down how the experience made you feel about yourself and your walk with God.