The happenings in the early church teach very important lessons for us today. Whether these events are good and pleasing, or tragic and depressing, all of it brings to us insight and learning that will refine us and make us ready for the return of the Lord Jesus.
One such event that teaches us very important lessons is the tragic death of a couple, Ananias and Sapphira. Their deaths, recorded in Acts 5:1-11, did not come as a result of persecution or trouble. They died because of something else: they lied to God.
In order for us to understand this, we have to look at what was happening in the early church during that time.
Acts 4:32-35 tells us that those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ were of "one heart and one soul." They shared everything they had, to the point that those "who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need."
With that background in mind, let's take a look at what we can learn from Ananias' and Sapphira's deaths.
In Acts 5:1-4 we read,
"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.""
We understand that Ananias and Sapphira also sold something that they possessed so that they could give. The problem here is not that they didn't give; the problem is they decided to lie.
Ananias and Sapphira agreed to sell their property, but they lied about the actual selling price. In their greed, and apparent stinginess, they gave a false amount so they could keep some money.
Of course, they owned the possession they sold; it was theirs. When they sold it, they still had control over what to do with the proceeds. They didn't have to lie - they could've just said they will give "a part of the proceeds," and it would be OK. But no, they lied.
They lied to God, and they died. And their deaths caused people to fear the LORD even more (see Acts 5:11).
So what can we learn from them? Here are a few things:
1) God sees everything, even what we keep in secret
Ananias and Sapphira tried to lie to Peter and the apostles, but they could not lie to God. He knows what we hide in our secret places.
We can never hide from God; why hide anyway?
2) Greed will always cause us to commit sin
The Bible did says that the love of money is the root of all evil (see 1 Timothy 6:10). Greed will always cause man to commit all sorts of sin.
In this couple's case, it was lying to the Holy Spirit and faking an image of generosity. In other cases, it could be anything from stealing, manipulation, lying, coercion, robbery, and the like.
3) When we lie, we lie to God and not to men
Lastly, we must realize that when we Christians lie, we don't just lie to man; we lie to God.
We have to realize that everything we do, we do unto the Lord. If we lie to man, we lie as His ambassadors. If we steal from man, we steal as His children. Everything we do affects our relationship with Him.
