Acts 5:1-2 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
As far as we know from Scripture, this is the first episode of corruption within the church. It didn’t take long for it to happen. But when it did happen it would have been imperceptible to the natural eye. If the Holy Spirit hadn’t given Peter supernatural insight into what was going on, he would have received what Ananias gave as the whole, and the assembly of believers would have rejoiced in his generosity. Ananias and Sapphira would have rejoiced in the praise of men and very possibly have gone on with the church, cutting corners with God at every opportunity. But God was having none of it and sent a message loud and clear that day- He was nobody’s fool and those who only give a certain part are not worthy of the honor due those who give the whole.
I believe Ananias and Sapphira would have survived that day if they had only admitted it was a certain part. And I believe many of us in churches across the land are in danger of making the same deceptive offering to God…acting like we are giving Him all but really only surrendering a certain part to Him.
A certain part. Not just a random part, but a chosen, a particular part. What we are comfortable giving. Maybe we feel good about fully giving God the spiritual parts of our life, but not the finances. Not the future plans. Those need to be kept back.
Whatever it might be, God isn’t unaware. Those around us may believe that we are totally sold out to Jesus, but God knows the truth about us. He won’t strike us dead for it, but we suffer loss in every area of life that we greedily cling to. Some may disagree, saying that those areas of their life are actually going pretty well. However you have no idea the tremendous things God may desire to do in those very areas if they were yielded to Him. We don’t need to be afraid of full surrender. He doesn’t desire it so He can hurt us, but in order to bless us.
So it’s up to you. Do you want a certain part of your life blessed or your full life blessed? Go ahead and give it all to Him.
He is my Delight 