"But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest."
Acts 5:1-2
What if you won the Lottery? Would you buy that tricked out four-wheel drive truck you’ve dreamed about? Maybe it’d be that fancy bass boat you thought would be nice to have if you ever had the money. Or would you get that nice house your wife always wanted cause after all, you are a family guy? You know, you might even give your church 10% just to thank God for letting you win, and give some to the less fortunate because you are a generous guy. Proper Perspective What is the proper perspective we should have on our finances?
Is it our money since we earned it/won it?
Is it God’s?
Are we being good stewards?
How should we use it?
In Acts 5:1-2, NLT - When the early church got going, Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent he kept the rest. We know what happened next. Peter asked him why did he let Satan fill his heart. The property was his and he could do with it what he wanted. But Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit (along with the apostles) and I think wanted accolades from men about how generous he was, while still wanting a share of the proceeds. When Peter told Ananias he wasn’t lying to men but to God, he fell to the floor and died. Later the same fate awaited Sapphira. The Real Problem Now the property and the money from the sale of the property was Ananias’s. He could do with it what he wanted to. Peter even told him that. This all occurred at a time not long after the Holy Spirit came to the believers at Pentecost. The believers were united and shared their possessions to help the needy. However, Ananias was dishonest, greedy, and prideful which is destructive to the Lord’s work and our stewardship. How to Keep the Proper Perspective So how should we view the finances God has blessed us with? First, we should thank Him for what He has provided to us; since everything is His. We ALWAYS need to appreciate and understand the blessings the Lord has given us! Then, we should use those finances to provide for our family and generously support the Lord’s work. It is alright to use these resources for our enjoyment, with the understanding that we use them in a way that doesn’t displease the Lord.
Mark Stitch MD5 Facilitator