Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
A Heart Problem
Manna Samuel
Long Island MTC, NY
3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your
heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the
land?
In a brief fifteen verses, Acts 5 tells us the story of Ananias and Sapphira, members of the church community rebuked for lying to the Spirit. The story as most of us know entails the fatal death of the couple after their decision to hide money intended for the church. When Peter confronted them, they each falsely told him that they had given all the money they had received, when in fact they kept some of it for themselves.
In a time where the community Ananias and Sapphira were surrounded by was flourishing in God’s grace and power, sharing everything they had with “one heart and mind” such that there was “no needy persons among them”, their selfish desires struck a dissonant chord (Acts 4). Their actions were reflective of a heart that was in direct contradiction with that of the Church. Peter made known this problem and asked Ananias “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?”
The problem wasn’t the amount Ananias and Sapphira were willing to give, but the intention of their heart in giving. The couple actively chose to lie about how much of their earnings were being given because they were concerned with what people thought about them and their donation. They valued their money and social status over the unified community of believers who laid everything at the Lord’s feet. Their hearts were not serving in reverence of God or love for the Father, but rather to gain praise and recognition for themselves.
The dissonant heart of a few among many was clear and fatal. It is not suggested, but commanded that a community of believers maintain one heart and mind: serving and worshiping “with all [our] hearts, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23). For us to settle for anything but would directly hinder the great power God desires his people to function under. And so as members of one body, are we satisfied with the state of our heart? Is our relationship with God and our Love for him the reason we serve, or are we driven by selfish desire? In the case of Ananias and Sapphira, I wonder if they ever had a real relationship with God, or if they were simply observing the wonders of the early church as outsiders. In which case they were never truly a part of the body of Christ.
In a brief fifteen verses, Acts 5 tells us the story of Ananias and Sapphira, members of the church community rebuked for lying to the Spirit. The story as most of us know entails the fatal death of the couple after their decision to hide money intended for the church. When Peter confronted them, they each falsely told him that they had given all the money they had received, when in fact they kept some of it for themselves.
In a time where the community Ananias and Sapphira were surrounded by was flourishing in God’s grace and power, sharing everything they had with “one heart and mind” such that there was “no needy persons among them”, their selfish desires struck a dissonant chord (Acts 4). Their actions were reflective of a heart that was in direct contradiction with that of the Church. Peter made known this problem and asked Ananias “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?”
The problem wasn’t the amount Ananias and Sapphira were willing to give, but the intention of their heart in giving. The couple actively chose to lie about how much of their earnings were being given because they were concerned with what people thought about them and their donation. They valued their money and social status over the unified community of believers who laid everything at the Lord’s feet. Their hearts were not serving in reverence of God or love for the Father, but rather to gain praise and recognition for themselves.
The dissonant heart of a few among many was clear and fatal. It is not suggested, but commanded that a community of believers maintain one heart and mind: serving and worshiping “with all [our] hearts, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23). For us to settle for anything but would directly hinder the great power God desires his people to function under. And so as members of one body, are we satisfied with the state of our heart? Is our relationship with God and our Love for him the reason we serve, or are we driven by selfish desire? In the case of Ananias and Sapphira, I wonder if they ever had a real relationship with God, or if they were simply observing the wonders of the early church as outsiders. In which case they were never truly a part of the body of Christ.
PRAYER
God we praise you as the
Father and head of this church. Thank you for the communities you have placed
us in and the opportunities we are given to serve you. God we’re sorry
for allowing a love of money and power drive us, as opposed to a love for you.
Mold our hearts so that we may be believers of one heart and mind, in full
surrender to you. We lay ourselves at your feet Lord. Amen.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
"If we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and self-seeking and pleasure and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God, and I believe many a man is praying to God to fill him when he is full already with something else." -D.L. Moody
"If we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and self-seeking and pleasure and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God, and I believe many a man is praying to God to fill him when he is full already with something else." -D.L. Moody