Ananias and Sapphira: Defiled Headship Part III
The fleshly desire for praise and adoration Ananias and Sapphira craved can affect a marriage relationship in another way. It causes each partner to vie selfishly for supremacy and seek more for one’s self from the relationship. One gives of themselves with the intention to get something in return, and they usually keep track of how much they get or lack thereof. If one thinks they are coming out on the short end, they will fight and complain until they get what they want or think they deserve.
Usually, one or both partners is keeping score of who gives in the most, who gets the most attention, who shows the most appreciation, or some other trivial matter. The need for one partner to come out looking better than the other causes his/her-self to mask their inner person and this entrenches him/her more firmly into their vile hypocrisy.
Ananias and Sapphira may have agreed together in their deceitful plan, but they never admitted the sinfulness of it to one another or to God. When a husband and wife become partners in pretense, it will eventually destroy them.
Three hours later, after Ananias died, Sapphira came in looking for her husband and Peter gave her an opportunity to be honest. “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” (Acts 5:8) She chose to concur with the same lie her husband initiated. Without a moment’s hesitation she answered, “Yes, that was the price.” Peter then declared that she would be punished with the same fate as her husband.
This story is a powerful illustration of God’s divine discipline. It reveals how strongly He feels about hypocrisy in His Church and He wanted it known for all time.
God will not be mocked nor will He allow it to continue. He will do whatever it takes to prepare His Church for the return of His Son Jesus.
Are you ready?
Is there any area of your life-----your heart that is not right before God?
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