Generosity Generates Blessings

Did The Devil Really Make You Do It?

     People like to blame a lot of "stuff" on the devil when it's not really the devil at all; it's really that person choosing to be disobedient in their heart.  When there is something that a person has purposed in their heart that they are not going to do, they like to say, "the devil sure is busy".  Don't credit the devil where he deserves no credit.  Don't "reap" anything to him.  Don't give him any more ammunition to go on then he already has.

     In Acts 5:1-11; we find the story of Ananias and Sapphira.  I believe this story was written in the word of God as a reminder to the people of God not to make the same mistake that this couple made in the area of giving.  Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of their property.  After selling the property Ananias held back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds that they had received from the purchase of the property bring only a portion of the proceeds to place at the feet of the Apostles.  Ananias purposed in his heart with his wife's full knowledge to keep back part of the money for himself.  On top of that they lied about their giving by letting Satan fill their hearts with deceit to attempt to "fool" the Holy Spirit and mislead God's people.

     Here, we see the spirit of dishonesty at work in the church.  The spirit of dishonesty continues to "lurk" among God's people today.  If Satan can continue to get the people of God not to give to the church he "thinks" their non-giving will stop the of Christ.  He figures if the people don't give then the building up of God's kingdom will have to cease.  Satan wants nothing more than to stop the progress of the kingdom of God.  Satan will always be there to try to make you stumble in any way that he can.  It's up to you not to let him.  You have to let him know that he's not as "slick" as he thinks he is.  You have to let him know that you "see" his tricks and schemes and they won't work.

     The sin that Ananias and Sapphira committed went deeper than them holding back the money.  It was the fact that they lied to God and to the people of God.  They were trying to make themselves "appear" more generous than they really were.  Dishonesty, greed, and covetousness will quickly "wreck" a church if it goes unchecked.  The Holy Spirit cannot work effectively when this sort of thing is going on.  This type of behavior "grieves" the Holy Spirit of God.

     Lying is a sin and considers "any type" of sin; no matter how large or small we consider it to be; a serious offense.  Just like He considers not giving all you are supposed to give a serious offense---it's called stealing---robbing God.  And when you do this, God's word says that you are cursed with a curse.  They agreed to conspire together to test the Spirit of the Lord.  You can't fool God and "woe" to those who tries to test Him in the wrong way.  There's no sense in trying because God sees all.

     The sin that Ananias and Sapphira committed was not stinginess or greed it was lying to God.  Every time you don't give what you should you are lying to God.  God hates sin.  Don't take advantage of God; it's a sin.  The wages of sin is death.  Ananias and Sapphira paid the ultimate penalty for their sin.  God is trying to get us to understand the seriousness of this offense.  Peter asked them the question "what made you think of doing such a thing?"  You have not lied to men but to God.  Peter knew what had taken place before he asked the question because the Holy Spirit revealed it to him.

Read more about the story of Ananias and Sapphira and learn a valuable lesson.