Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Confidence”
Our Bible verse for today: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the field? … You have not lied to men but to God!” Acts 5:3; 4 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Have the confidence to be honest with people.”
This morning I was reading in Acts chapter five and once again came upon that odd and disturbing story of Ananias and his wife Sapphira. They were part of the early church in Jerusalem. In chapters three and four we read about the great spirit of fellowship, compassion, love, and generosity which prevailed in that church. All the members were making great sacrifices on behalf of others; many were selling their possessions and bringing the proceeds to the Apostles to be used for the benefit of everyone.
Ananias and Sapphria saw the selfless sacrifices and the joyful giving that others were engaged in, and they saw the high esteem the most generous givers were held in by the rest of the congregation, and they wanted some of it for themselves.
So they sold a field they owned but then, they gave only part of the proceeds while attempting to convince everyone that they were giving it all – and they got caught. Peter made it clear that it would have been perfectly fine for them to have kept all or part of the proceeds for themselves. Their sin was not keeping some of it for their own use; their sin was the sin of deception. They lied about it and they deceived others.
Why did Ananias and Sapphria do that? Obviously it was because they were jealous for the praise other people were getting. They were so concerned with what other people thought of them, and so eager to be held in high esteem by the group, that they engaged in a despicable act of religious deception. However, we cannot sin against the people of God without also sinning against God. That’s the lesson we learn from the example of Ananias and Sapphria.
Public praise can be an addictive thing. The strong desire for approval and acclaim can drive us to present ourselves and our motives in dishonest and deceptive ways. It’s essential that we have the confidence to be completely open and honest with God – and with God’s people. Resist the temptation to deceive or mislead people in an attempt to get them to think more highly of you. Be honest and let your words and actions speak for themselves. Just be you.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 