With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostle’s feet. (Acts 5:2)
When Eve met the serpent in the garden of Eden, she was innocent. Nonetheless, as she continued her conversation with the serpent, she failed to recognize the conniving character and lying nature of the serpent. It was so convincing in its lies, that Eve believed it.
After Eve believed the serpent and took the fruit from the tree, ate from it, and shared it with Adam, immediately their eyes were open and they realized they were naked (see Gen. 3). When God called Adam, he responded that he was hiding because he was naked, and then accused Eve of giving him some of the fruit from the tree.
The problem with lies is that no matter how hard one may try to conceal something from God, he or she will fail. Adam blamed Eve, who blamed the serpent. In the end, they all received a punishment for their disobedience and deception. Because of their behavior, sin entered the world.
Ananias and Sapphira were among the people who lived in a tight community where everyone shared everything. When it was their turn to share, they chose to be deceitful by turning over only part of the proceeds from the sale of their property to the apostles. The reward for their behavior was death, an expensive price to pay for something that is so temporal like money.
Confess sin and be free.
Luska Natali is a native of Brazil who is passionate about God, her family, learning new languages (she fluently speaks three), and meeting people.
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
