Jesus: “I am
the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6
As Acts 2
closes, we witness the love, willingness to give and sharing spirit of the new
believers. “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They
sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” Acts 2:44-45
Acts 4 visits
this again: “There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time
those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales, and
put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.” Acts 4:34-35
Ananias and
Sapphira had joined the church, and like the others, chose to sell property to
support the cause. But Ananias conspired with his wife to hold back a portion
of the funds for themselves, while still pretending to give the entire amount.
When confronted, they fell down and died!
As church
members, it’s important for us to fully understand their situation. Ananias and
Sapphira could have sold the property or not sold the property, and either
choice would have been OK. Once they had the money, they could have given or
not given, and that too would have been OK. And once they decided to give, the
amount could have been large or small; none of these things were the issue.
The problem
was the lie. Ananias and Sapphira purported to do the same as the others, to
donate the full amount, while in fact they underhandedly conspired to do
otherwise and deceive the flock.
God did not
tolerate deceit in the early church, and the same type of behavior saddens him
nowadays. When Jesus returns for his time of judgment, each of us will be
accountable for any schemes, deceit and tomfoolery we may have perpetrated
while in His service.
Truth is a
person, the person who came to rescue us!
Norton
Lawellin
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