It all started with a good deed. He sold some property and donated the money to the church. He wasn’t the only one to do this. He was just one of many that made a generous donation to a worthy cause.
Even though he did something good, he lost his life. It happened, not because of the good deed, but because he lied about his good deed.
The church had been established on the day of Pentecost. The Jews stayed on in Jerusalem, listening to the apostles tell of the resurrection of Jesus. They shared what they had so that no one had to do without necessities. They even sold property and gave the proceeds to the apostles so that they could distribute funds to those in need.
A man named Barnabas sold a field and gave the money to the apostles. His generosity is recalled in only two verses at the end of Acts chapter 4.
Chapter 5 begins, “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.” It would seem that the generosity of the Christians continued, but verse 2 lets us know there was something different about this gift. It says, “And with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
Peter was not fooled by Ananias’ deceit. He confronted him by telling him that Satan had filled his heart, that he had lied to the Holy Spirit, and that he had kept part of the money for himself. He even pointed out to him that the property was his, and he did not have to sell it. Even when he sold it, he did not have to give all of the proceeds.
Then Peter asked Ananias a question. He asked, “Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart?” Ananias was then struck dead, which created fear in the people who had just witnessed this event.
Later, Sapphira came in and was questioned by Peter about the amount she and Ananias had received from the sale of the property. She, not knowing what had happened, told the same lie. The result was the same for her. She was struck dead, and the same young men that buried her husband carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
Aren’t we glad that we don’t have the same immediate results when we tell a lie? So, what are the consequences when we lie?
- The Psalmist says, “Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.”
- Proverbs 6:16-17 lists things the Lord hates. Verse 17 names “a lying tongue” as one of those things. It is listed with pride and murder.
- In James 3, James talks about the world of iniquity that can be produced by the tongue. Verse 14 speaks specifically about those that are envious. The results of that envy are confusion and every evil work. Envy was part of what prompted Ananias to lie.
- Revelation 22:8 says that “all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Liars are placed in the same category with murderers, sexually immoral people, sorcerers, and idolaters.
So for us, the consequence of lying is not immediate death as it was for Ananias and Sapphira. Our lying lips will be silenced. The Lord will hate our lying lips. Our lying will result in evil works, and liars will have a place in eternal punishment.
There is no justification for “a little white lie.” The Bible makes no distinction between white lies and black lies. Lies are just lies.
We only need to read through James the 3rd chapter to see the impact of envy and deceit on the life of a Christian. Bitter envying or jealousy and strife cause us to lie. This kind of behavior does not come from above, but it comes from the devil.
We should heed the words of Solomon. “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23).
Sandra Oliver