giving the appearance of something you're not!

MORNING MEDITATIONS AND FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
Acts 5:9
"Giving the appearance of something you're not!"

Ananias and Sapphira

We know how the story goes concerning this married couple and their possessions. God's instant judgement on them evidently fit the crime that they had committed. They were hypocrites! 

They saw the effect of Barnabas's selfless act of giving and wanted some of that same attention and acknowledgement for themselves. Pocketing a little on the side for themselves in the process wouldn't hurt, so they thought.

They sold some real estate they had but lied about the amount of money they were going to contribute.
It was their money. They had a right to keep it, but lying to appear more generous, giving others the impression of something they weren't, was a big error in judgement. The amount to give was theirs to decide. There was no sin in not sharing all that they had. The sin was in lying to appear more generous. They lied to the Holy Spirit, although they were standing before Peter.

God hates a lying tongue (Prov. 6:17). It may seem extremely harsh for God to kill this couple on the spot, but God was letting us know how he feels about lying. Just because He may not strike us down for lying in these days, (His prerogative, but He could do it) does not lessen the fact that He hates it, and He will judge you and I if we choose to lie about anything!

God made an example of this couple and as a result, the others who heard about it were cautioned and warned not to lie!
Never deceive to impress others!! Lies and deception WILL come back to haunt you! Don't seek credit for something you didn't do!

​Colossians 3:9 says, "Lie not one to another." God will never allow us to get away with sin! Lying is no trivial matter!