"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 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? 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. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things."
Today's quote relates how Ananias and his wife Sapphira conspired together to deceive the Church by holding back a part of the value of their property.
It also demonstrates that they lost their lives, not because they didn't give up all the money, but because they chose, out of their own greed, to lie to the Holy Ghost.
Peter very clearly told Ananias that he had had no reason to lie since the land was theirs before they sold it, and ALL the money they received for it belonged to them after the sale. Their lie to the presence of God is what cost them their lives.
God doesn't require that His children give anything to anyone, however, as Jesus said to the "rich young ruler": "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Matthew 19:21)
That simply means that if we seek to be "perfect" we should give up everything we own for the purpose of our Lord Jesus Christ and in doing so we will lay up riches in heaven.
We should never give because we think it is demanded of us. We are to give because we want to, Jesus promised us time and time again that whatever we give out of love will be returned to us an hundred times over if we only give in faith.~
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