Acts 5:1-10 – “planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God”

Our heart has the ability to act out of joy and faith or out of reservation and rational. Giving has little to do with the organization needing the money. Giving has little to do with the monetary amount. Giving is about your heart attitude with God. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is not about withholding money from the church or else God will strike you with pain, suffering, or death. The “crime” is stated that they had lied. Ananias and Sapphira had chosen to claim that they we giving all they had received from the field they owned in order to help those in need. However, they had only given part of what they received from the sale. During those days as others were selling land and houses and giving to the needy, these two joined in the movement. They claimed that they were giving it all (perhaps to boast of their giving or to look righteous), rather than admitting that they kept some for themselves. God doesn’t expect us to sell all we have and give to the poor to the point where we ourselves are counted among the poor (2 Corin. 8:12-13). But He does desire that we will do all we really can for the community of faith. Our heart attitude is that God owns it all anyways. Our heart attitude is that God has faithfully and generously provided for us to be faithfully generous in return. Our heart attitude is that giving bring us joy and not with reservation from obligation. Our heart attitude is that we care more for others than ourselves because that’s exactly what God’s heart was for us when Jesus, the son of God, died on the cross for our sins. It brought Him joy because He cared about you. He didn’t do it out of obligation. He didn’t have to give. He didn’t hold back any of the blessings. The Father delights in continually giving you good things. Don’t let your heart hold back either.

Prayer Starter: God, You are so generous and so good to me. Thank You for doing the unpleasant things by dying on the Cross because You cared for me. Help me endure the unpleasantness as I develop a heart like Yours. Forgive me when I have held back in the things You have called me to do. Don’t allow me to pretend or to hold back any longer. You have brought it to light and I know what I must do. Fill me with joy and excitement as my heart lives Your will in my life to the fullest.

You’re reading a devotion from the Easter Devotional Plan 2016. For the rest of the 40 day plan, visit here.