2 minute read.
Daily Reading: 1 Kings 2:1-3:2 ESV, Acts 5:1-42 ESV, Psalm 125:1-5 ESV, Proverbs 16:25 ESV
Daily Verse: “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” (Acts 5:4 ESV)
TITHEMI (5087): “To place the widest application, lit. and fig. As a verb means “to put” is used of “appointment” to any form of service.”[i]
Form of service.
Contriving something means putting into motion some type of service, good or bad. For Ananias, he lied to God about money. After selling a piece of property, he held back some of the profit for himself instead of giving it to God. When Peter confronted Ananias with today’s verse, he fell to the ground and died.
God knows everything and provides everything. We often hear about people cheating on their taxes, but Jesus made it very clear.
“They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21 ESV)
Don’t cheat God.
If only Ananias had given God his due, how different things would have changed. For one thing, Ananias and his wife, who also lied, wouldn’t have died. Cheating God hurts you more than it does God.
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:10 ESV)
When you love money more than God, it will cause you problems. Anything you put before Jesus needs to go, including cash. Giving money away breaks the hold it has on you and puts God above the mighty dollar.
Nothing you have on earth will follow you into heaven. The fancy cars, big houses, and hefty bank accounts fade away. But eternal life with Jesus never ends. In Christ, you will find the peace found no other way.
Don’t let money get you off track; God first, money second. When you place Jesus in His rightful place in your heart, He’ll take care of the rest. When you have the hope of Jesus, you’ll want for nothing.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 250) Thomas Nelson
