Lying to keep up appearances
by Carolyn Ehrlich
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But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?’ (Acts 5:3).
Read Acts 4:32–5:11
I don’t know about you, but I find this Scripture challenging to read – a reality check. A Scripture about a lie with immediate and deadly consequences. A Scripture about a conspiracy between husband and wife to act disingenuously. A Scripture about collusion, about being found out. A tragic outcome. Why? Because Satan had filled the hearts of Ananias and Sapphira to lie to the Holy Spirit. It was not so much that they kept proceeds for themselves. The property that Ananias and Sapphira sold was theirs to do with as they desired. If they wanted to keep money back for themselves, that was okay. But they lied to the Holy Spirit in a premeditated sin that was motivated by pride – they said they were giving all the proceeds of the sale to God’s work, but that was a lie. They wanted to appear generous before their peers, but in their heart of hearts, they were not. They wanted to look good, to look righteous, to look godly, but they were hypocrites, and they were fake. Their hearts were dark, self-interested, self-serving, selfish.
What then does God want from us? He is asking for honesty, for humility, for integrity, for authenticity, for vulnerability before him. Self-examination can be difficult, but important. So today, perhaps it is time to ask some soul-searching questions. What are you keeping back from God? What are you doing to appear to look good before others? Are you cultivating a lifestyle of transparency and authenticity? Do you have a clear conscience? Do you have unconfessed sin? Are you representing God’s truth in a world dominated by evil? Are you making promises that you do not intend to keep? Are you colluding with someone else to deceive God and your community? Is what others think about you more important to you than honesty before God?
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23,24) (ESV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
Amen.
Carolyn Ehrlich lives in retirement with her husband Wayne in Ipswich, Queensland. Prior to retirement, Carolyn worked as a researcher in the fields of disability and rehabilitation. Today, Carolyn is kept busy with hobbies, supporting the Ipswich Lutheran Parish in various leadership roles and supporting her family.
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