In 2008, a man was killed in a car crash in New Zealand. The autopsy revealed he’d been driving without wearing a seatbelt, having installed a fake belt which went over one shoulder so that it appeared to any passing motorist or police car that he was actually wearing a real one. He was pretending to comply with the law, but according to the coroner his subterfuge cost him his life.
Ananias and Sapphira wanted to appear generous. They saw the example of Barnabas and the recognition he’d received and wanted to share in the applause of men (Acts 4:36-37). They had two major problems, however. First, they sought the approval of others rather than the approval of God; second, they were trapped in their love of money. They tried to pretend they loved God, but for them, money was a greater priority.
But as Peter identified when he confronted Ananias, money wasn’t even the key issue (Acts 5:3-4). It was the couple’s attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit with a lie. By pretending to be generous but actually loving money and seeking recognition, sadly Ananias sealed his fate (Acts 5:5).
God doesn’t need our money; no more than He needed the money of Ananias. He desires hearts that worship and obey Him out of a response to the amazing love He so generously extends to us. If we pretend to give our all to Him and merely feign obedience, we sin against Him and stand condemned.
Unlike Ananias and Sapphira, however, God has given us time to repent. May we come before Him in brokenness with a true change of heart, for His grace is always available. Just pretending will get us nowhere. May we worship and obey God for who He is—our faithful, loving Lord!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 20:1-22
More:
Read 1 Samuel 15:10-19 and consider how Saul tried to pretend that what he had done was right.
Next:
What needs to change in your worship of God? Why is it so vital that we obey Him?
Gary Shultz on February 15, 2016 at 7:05 am
Ah yes, a testy mind set as old as the garden itself and as fresh as thoughts that roll off our minds today. What has to change is our belief in God. Do we really believe (Heb. 4:12&13) does God really observe closely our actions and thoughts, does He care? If we believe with a resounding “YES” our approach to God, our though life, and our habits must change. How could one worship or obey thinking they have fooled God? Does God not expect openness in a relationship, would not we?……. Thanks Russell, you do well.
sandy229 on February 15, 2016 at 10:29 pm
That’s true Gary, you can fool other people but you can’t fool God. God knows our hearts.
Tom Felten on February 15, 2016 at 8:55 am
So grateful that we can come to God in repentance. As David wrote, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
kristik1 on February 15, 2016 at 12:55 pm
I am grateful that God has given us the opportunity to repent our sins. What the couple did here was something God would not have approved.
sandy229 on February 15, 2016 at 10:30 pm
I don’t think they were pretending, they just out and out lied!!