How many times have we prayed to Jesus and said, "Jesus, if you would only do this for me, I will most certainly do this for you (be more faithful, be a better Christian, go to church more regularly, etc.)?"
Ananias and his wife decided that they would sell their property and give all but a certain portion of the money to help support the followers of Jesus in their work. Now, when they presented the money from the sale of their property, they said that they were donating ALL the proceeds to further the spread of the message of Jesus' Resurrection from the dead. They didn't have to give all their money to this cause, but it was because they formed a plot in their heart to defraud God and make it look like they were such pious Christians, that they had the ultimate punishment. Do we dicker over things with Jesus, as well, but not follow through on what we promise?
Acts 5: But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine
heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine
own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou
conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell
down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these
things.
