October 4, 2023
Topic: THE DECEIT OF DECEPTION
Text: Acts 5:1-11
Memory Verse: The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them (Proverbs 11:3)
Today we will talk about Deception, another hidden and grievous sin. To deceive is to cause someone to believe something that is not true usually to gain some personal advantage over him or her. It goes beyond just telling a lie to perhaps escape punishment into falsehood that sets up the other person for loss, damage or destruction. We see this in interpersonal relationships, in marriages, in businesses and sadly in the church of God, as we see in our passage today. Brethren intentionally deceive one another in order to misrepresent who they are to gain some kind of status and advantage in the church of God.
When Ananias and Sapphira decided to sell their land and bring the proceeds to the Apostles, they represented to the brethren and subscribed to an unspoken understanding that the entire sum would be contributed to the general purse. Those who began the practice in Acts 4 did this and by following this practice, there was an unspoken pledge to do what others were doing. There was no compulsion to do it and they could easily have brought a cash gift without claiming to have sold their property. They thought by their smartness, they could deceive the church and gain status amongst those who sacrificially sold their land for the sake of the Gospel. They may have justified it to themselves that after all, they were contributing something and no one need know the full circumstances. They obviously forgot the One who sees in secret and rewards openly.
God is a not a deceiver and never needs to misrepresent who He is. As His children, created in His image and likeness, we are expected to display a high level of integrity in our dealings with others. It is part of faithfulness, an attribute of God. Some of the human traits that will become more manifest in the end times are unfaithfulness, covenant breaking and treachery (2 Timothy 3:2-5). As Christians, we should be known as people of integrity, uprightness, trustworthiness, meaning what we say and are saying are what we mean. When we live deceitful lives, we dishonor God.
Prayer: Dear Father, help me by Your Holy Spirit to be a person of character and integrity, faithful to my words, keeping my promises so that my life can be pleasing to You and bring glory to Your Holy Name. Amen!