In Acts 5, the account of Ananias and Sapphira's hypocrisy is recorded. It comes immediately after Barnabas' fine example. It is also in contrast to his example. He sold a tract of land and gave the full price of it to the apostles to help needy Christians (Acts 4:36-37, cf. v. 34). Ananias and Sapphira pretended to do the same thing that Barnabas had done - except they kept back part of the price of the land they had sold (Acts 5:1-2). While theirs was a case of individual sin there was a serious danger for the whole church in their actions. Why is this so? If such hypocrisy gained ground others would start doing things in service to God only for appearances sake (Matt. 6:1, 2, 5, 16; 23:5-7). Let us draw some needed lessons from their actions for today. We do so in the form of questions.

1. Why do you come to services? Do you do so because "that's what Christians are supposed to do"? Do you come because of the pressure or pleasure you receive from others who will be there? Do you go to feel better than the lost around you? Or do you primarily go to worship God and seek to draw closer to Him (John 4:23-24; Ps. 29:2; 1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:24-25)? Is there joy in your heart at the chance to be in the church, the temple of God (Ps. 122:1; 1 Cor. 3:17)?

2. Do you give as you should? Do you conscientiously take account of how you have prospered and give accordingly (1 Cor. 16:2)? Is your attitude toward giving like that of Ananias and Sapphira? Do you give grudgingly, out of a feeling that you have to give, or do you give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7)? Does the sacrificial aspect of giving seen in the examples found in Acts 4:34-37 and 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 have any place in your life?

3. Do you serve God as you should in your daily life? We can all show hospitality, visit or call the sick, help the needy, and do other good works (Gal. 6:10). Do we do this grudgingly or out of necessity, or is it done cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7; Rom. 12:8). Do we seek to abound in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58)? Do we seek to shine as lights in the world (Matt. 5:16)?

Let us all soberly recognize that if we are just doing things for appearances sake we are not pleasing God. If we seek to do the works of Christ in our lives let us all give Him the place He deserves in our hearts (Gal. 2:20).

The Way of Truth and Life, 12/1/13