What Is Enough?
You have not lied to men but to God Acts 5:4 NASB
Lied – This word comes from the Greek word pseudomai. You will see our English word pseudo in this verb. It means “what is false.” Peter confronts Ananias. It is not a confrontation about the sale of the property. It is not about the right to use the property before it was sold. The confrontation is about what Ananias claimed about the sale. He held some back for himself and he lied about it. It seemed like such a minor thing. After all, he gave most of the property to the church. He just kept a little back to make sure he had an emergency fund. But this lie cost Ananias his life.
Have you every wondered why the penalty was so severe? Why did death follow such a tiny lie? The answer is found in the action that Ananias took. Ananias brought the sale of his property to Peter and “laid it at his feet.” This was supposed to be an act of worship, a sacrifice to God from a broken and repentant heart. But Peter saw something else. He saw that this act was a sacrilege. It mocked God’s total sacrifice manifest in the life of the Messiah. Ananias pretended to give everything. He wanted it to look like he was being pure in heart. But his heart was full of deceit. It was as if he said, “There God, I’ll give you this so that I will look righteous, but Your gift of the Savior was not enough for me to give all that I have in return. I’ll just keep a little in case things don’t work out for me.”
The death of the Christ was the total commitment of Yeshua to God’s plan of salvation and the total offering of God for the redemption of every one of us. Offering a sacrifice that deliberately insults God’s sovereignty and sacrifice is a very serious offense. Pretending that it is enough is even worse. There are no “small” lies in front of God.
We often talk as though God is part of our lives. Ministers exhort us to give more of ourselves to God. We are like Ananias, holding back a little just in case things don’t go our way. We try to offer a partial sacrifice to God. Do we think that God does not know the lie we make when we try to pretend we are all His but we keep a little back for ourselves? If we do not offer everything to God, aren’t we really insulting His gift? God will never settle for part of your life. You might as well acknowledge the lie to Him right up front. If you aren’t giving everything into His hands, your partial sacrifice will just become sacrilege. With God there is no pretending.
Topical Index: sacrifice, lie, pseudomai, Acts 5:4
When the Israelites entered the Promised Land there was “sin in the camp” when Achan kept some of the loot. There followed a public demonstration of the high standard which God was applying to the conduct of His people, and the death of Achan and his family resulted. A little leaven will leaven the whole loaf. I suspect something similar is happening in the story of Ananias and his wife.
Hmmm
I came to know Ananias by way of Buffy Saint Marie
As I recall her was voice was much higher and sweeter and more spiritual in 1968
Ananias From Album “It’s My Way”
http://buffy-sainte-marie.blogspot.com/2012/01/ananias-video-lyrics-by-buffy-sainte.html
Ananais, Ananais,
tell me what kind of man this Jesus is, my Lord.
Ananais, Ananais,
tell me what kind of man this Jesus is, my Lord.
You know He went to the sick and the sick they got well.
Tell me what kind of man this Jesus is, my Lord.
Ananais, Ananais,
tell me what kind of man this Jesus is, my Lord.
Ananais, Ananais,
tell me what kind of man this Jesus is, my Lord.
You know He went to the dead and the dead they did rise.
Tell me what kind of man Jesus is, my Lord.
Ananais, Ananais,
oh tell me what kind of man my Jesus is, my Lord.
Ananais, Ananais,
oh tell me what kind of man my Jesus is, my Lord.
You know He, He come to my heart and my heart opened up
oh tell me what kind of man Jesus is, my Lord.
Ananais, Ananais,
oh tell me what kind of man my Jesus is, my Lord.
We just recently celebrated the blood covenant union of two houses this past Sunday, my daughter and her chosen one, her husband, and my new son-in-love. Yes, what God has joined together in holy matrimony. They now belong to each other, but only 90%. After all she only wants 90% of him and he only wants or desires 90% of her. That’s a large percentage,- wouldn’t you say? After all, we’re only holding one tenth in reserve here..- just in case- or for whatever reason.. Is this the way marriage works?
Would you be satisfied in your relationship with your spouse if she or he gave you 90%? If so, – may I have her the remaining 10% of the time, or are you going to be “greedy” and not share? What? You say she belongs to you? She is “all” yours? And by what right or privilege sir?
Marriage is a blood-covenant union between he and she. She is mine, in totality, and I am hers. The good, the bad and the ugly- I am (and you are if you are married,) “p-owned.” Place your seal over me, sweetheart, for I am yours. I give myself, all that I am, all that I ever hope to be, all my worldly possessions, “powers”-whatever these may be- are at your disposal and all are for you. Nothing is reserved, nothing is held back, for we (my wife and I) have become one- the two have become one, in blood-covenant union. My wife is mine and I am hers and we belong (only) to each other in an exclusive, sacred, intimate and wonderful relationship and until death do (one of) us part, I will remain faithful unto her and she unto me.
I have attempted to describe a relationship. A sacred relationship between a husband and a wife. Those of us who are married, will have a greater understanding of this poor attempt I have made using mere words. They “know”- experientially, -having “been there, done that!”
We, (you and I) are “married” to Christ, our heavenly Boaz, our near-kinsman Redeemer. We are His, and He is ours, in blood-covenant relationship. We, (you and I) have been “bought with a price.” We are owned. Not only “owned,”- we have been “sealed.” We, (you and I) now belong to The Messiah, We are His and He is ours. In totality. In blood covenant relationship. The new covenant in His blood. He has paid a very high price for us, He must think we are “worth it.” ~ Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross despising the shame..~
Our Bible speaks of a wedding supper, yet to be. One thing I have found out, (the hard way once again!- lol!)- weddings are expensive. But I also can now, look back and say- that was so worth it!! That was a such a fun time, but of course- it was over too soon. Emotions ran all over the map, but mostly tears of joy and celebration!! Great joy and wonderful fellowship between family and friends. May I?
There is a another wedding yet to be.. – it is the “marriage supper of the Lamb.” (http://endtimepilgrim.org/marriage.htm) And the Master said to the servant(s), -“Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that My house may be filled.” (Luke 14.23)
We like to party. So does God. He has given His written invitation, “whosoever will” may come.. I have accepted and am very much looking forward to being there. This heavenly party will not be over too quickly either, I am very glad and grateful for that! Will there be food, music, dancing, celebration? Nothing like I’ve never seen, nor could even imagine.. Our prodigal Father has been planning this and preparing for this for a long time. If God can create a world in seven days, – what kind of party (and heavenly honeymoon!) can be prepared for us over the centuries?
Again, (and again..)- what do the scriptures say? ~ But as it is written: (don’t you love these three words? “it is written!”) “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, and upon the heart of man has not come up that which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2.9)
There has been a song written somewhat recently- “I Can Only Imagine..” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pqU42CPuMU&feature=related ) Sorry..(just the facts!) – no you can’t! – neither can I.. -“for eye has not seen, ear has not heard,- neither has entered into the heart of man- the things God has prepared for them that love Him.” All we have now, on this side of the exit door marked death, is a glimpse of glory, similar to a minnow having a glimpse of the ocean, or a snowflake having a glimpse of Antarctica, but this does give greater impact to the words of our Messiah and soon coming King, “you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart-soul-mind- and strength”- and shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In case we missed it, (we miss much of the details of the scriptures!)- the word “all” was used here. “All” your heart-soul-mind and strength. He owns it “all.”
We are His by right of Creation. Whose world is it, anyway? His. But greater and far more wonderful and wonder-filled than this is- We are His (again) by right of Calvary. Bought with the precious blood of Christ. As these inspired words say-
What heights of love,
what depths of peace
When fears are stilled,
when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
It is good now, but the best is yet to be.. “it is so!”- amen!