Ananias and Sapphira will forever be remembered as deceivers. Their story is told in Acts 5. Here are the lowlights:
- The church was young and vibrant. Believers understood their need for one another and interacted with great transparency, love, and generosity.
- Ananias and Sapphira liked what they saw in this close-knit community and wanted to be a part of it. So, seeing an opportunity to make a financial contribution—and thereby make a good impression—they sold a piece of property and brought the money to the apostles (church leaders).
- The problem: They claimed that they were giving 100% of the proceeds from the sale, but they were actually holding on to some of the money.
The question that must have driven Ananias and Sapphira’s scheme was: Who would know? They surely reasoned that the appearance of doing good was good enough. They plotted a win-win: get credit for being generous while pocketing a little cash.
But their lie cost them their lives. Because the answer to “Who would know?” is: God. He knows. He always knows. Nothing is hidden from Him. Nothing.
Anywhere there is deception practiced by His children, God is misrepresented, and He cares too deeply about His reputation to let that happen. And so should we. God’s reputation—His glory—should matter more to us than anything.
Say YES to God by leading a life of honesty. And when He convicts you of deception and hypocrisy, agree with Him and come clean.
If we walk in the light, as he is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.
(1 John 1:7–8 ESV)