Manipulation vs. Generosity

Listen to our friend Helen tell how God responded when a couple tried to manipulate him and the church.

A married couple lied to the church. Ananias and Sapphira sold their property and gave part of the proceeds to the community of the followers of Jesus. But the couple pretended they were giving the full amount of money from the sale of their property. Rather than be truthful, they chose to misrepresent the value of their gift. Peter quickly pointed out that the amount of the gift was not the issue. The issue was the couple’s deceit and greed. They attempted to manipulate how the people in the church thought of them, elevating themselves to earn esteem. The couple lied not only to the community, but even to God. They attempted to manipulate God for their own purposes. When Peter confronted them, they fell down dead!

The story of the lying couple is a warning to us: greed, deceit, and manipulation have no place in the church.

Tragically, all this deceit and manipulation was in vain. Ananias and Sapphira could have known a much better life, a life of true prosperity. True prosperity—a humble recognition of the grace and provision God has given us—leads us to a grateful generosity. Our gratitude leads us to share the blessings God has given us, because we want others to experience his blessing too. True prosperity honors God’s name, not ours.

“Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit” (Psalm 32:2 NIV).