The story of Ananias and Sapphira can make us shudder. It is sobering and rather dark. You can read the account in Acts 5:1-9.

People in the early church were generously selling properties and giving to God’s cause and the money was shared with those in need. Ananias and Sapphira were inspired to join the others in blessing the church. They decided to sell some of their property  and they pledged that whatever they received from the sale, they would give to the church.

At some point along the way, they began to second-guess their decision to give all the money from the sale. Wow, did we really pledge to give all the money from the property? Let’s give some of the money, and keep the rest. That way, we will still appear very generous, the church folk will think well of us, and we can retain some of the funds.

They made an agreement that they would pretend that their donation was the entire price of the sale.

They forgot something very important: They did not merely lie to the church leadership. They lied to the Holy Spirit. God hates hypocrisy and falsehood. Ananias and Sapphira practiced fraud in their dealing with God. You can read what happened in the Scripture account.

Where did they go wrong? How can I make sure that I do not end up as they did. It’s easy to say to myself, “I would never do that!”

Jesus defined hypocrisy in Matthew 15:7 & 8 — “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.'”

And in another place, Jesus said:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

The third commandment reads,

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” In other words, If I call myself a Christian, it must go beyond a label.

A hymn that Christians often sing is All to Jesus, I Surrender. Recently, it struck me that, like Ananias and Sapphira, every time I sing that song I am making a pledge. I am pledging to give Jesus everything I have.

But unlike those two unfortunate people above, I pray that I will give Him my all. He gave everything for me. He is worthy of my all, nothing held back, not even 50 cents, not even a half hour per week. He deserves 100 per cent! I will ask God for the grace to follow through with my pledge. I can never out-give the Lord! Those who give all have no regrets.

His grace is sufficient. Praise His name!