IT IS NOT GOOD TO LIE TO GOD

PROCLAMATION

“Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.  With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. … Then Peter said, ‘Ananias … You have not lied just to human beings but to God.’  When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. … About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.  Peter asked her, ‘Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?’ ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘that is the price.’  Peter said to her, ‘How could you conspire to test The Spirit of The Lord?  Listen!  The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.’  At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.  Then the young men … carried her out and buried her beside her husband.  Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”  Acts 5:1-11 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

All of the believers at that time were on one accord. (Acts 4:32)  So that there would be no needy among them, from time to time those who owned property would sell some of their property and bring the full price that they had received and place it at the feet of the apostles. (Acts 4:34-37)  When Ananias and Sapphira sold their property, they kept part of the profits for themselves and brought the rest to the church and lied claiming that they had brought the church the full price.  They came to the church separately but they both lied about the price which they had received for their property and they each were struck down where they stood.

 

APPLICATION

There is nothing in The Bible which says that we have to sell all that we have and give it to the church.  In fact, there are those Bible scholars, like J. Vernon McGee, who believe that the giving of tithes and sacrificial offerings were required under the Mosaic Law which does not apply to us today.  We are to give to The Lord God as He has prospered us (1 Corinthians 16:2) and as we determine in our hearts the amount which we can give cheerfully, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)  The problem here is that Ananias and Sapphira lied about their giving.  The sin is in lying about the amount that we give, or claiming that we are giving a tithe, one tenth of our gross earnings or income, and not really doing so.  God will not be mocked; we will pay for our sins (Galatians 6:7) even though the sins will not affect our salvation thanks to Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

 

 

CURSED IS HE WHO VOWS ONE THING BUT DOES ANOTHER

Proclamation:

“‘Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to The Lord.  For I am a great king,’ says The Lord Almighty, ‘and My name is to be feared among the nations.’”  Malachi 1:14 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Malachi.  In the days when sacrificial offerings were made to The Lord God, the animal which was to be sacrificed was to be the best of the flock, a perfect one without spot or blemish.  Malachi told the people that God will curse those who claim to give Him their best animal but knowingly offer Him less than their best.

Application:

This passage of scripture clearly refers to sacrificial animals.  However, it is my opinion that the principal involved here can be generalized to include promising God one thing, but then giving Him something else which is of lesser value.  Our promise could include giving God of our time, talent, or treasure and then not keeping our promise and giving Him less of whatever.  God is not pleased with us when we do not keep our word.  We should take heed of this and live up to our promises.  We need to give God our best and our best effort.  When we vow to do something for The Lord and then don't do it, especially when we easily could have done it, we may also incur the wrath of God and be cursed instead of blessed.