How can Acts 5:4 guide us in financial integrity today? The Setting and the Verse “Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive in your heart to do such a thing? You have not lied to men, but to God.” (Acts 5:4) Key Takeaways from Acts 5:4 • Personal ownership is affirmed—Ananias and Sapphira were not forced to give anything. • Voluntary giving is honored only when it is honest. • Financial deceit is ultimately a lie against God, not merely against people. Principles for Financial Integrity Today • Stewardship not possession: “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). All resources are held in trust. • Truthful representation: “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:21). • Freedom with accountability—Acts 5:4 shows liberty to decide, yet God still examines motives. • Keeping vows: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it” (Ec 5:4). • Avoiding hypocrisy: Jesus warns against giving “to be seen by men” (Matthew 6:1–4). • Recognizing deceit as spiritual rebellion: see Colossians 3:9, “Do not lie to one another.” Practical Steps to Live It Out • Maintain accurate records; “Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD” (Proverbs 16:11). • Pay all taxes and debts—Romans 13:7. • Give what you promised, whether to church, missionary, or charity. • Seek accountability: enlist a trusted believer to review budgets and statements. • Reject secret kickbacks, inflated expense reports, or cash-only side deals. • Confess and correct immediately if you slip; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful” (1 John 1:9). What Integrity Produces • Security—“He who walks in integrity walks securely” (Proverbs 10:9). • A clear witness—financial honesty adorns the gospel (Titus 2:10). • Generous overflow—“He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). • God’s open-handed blessing—“Test Me in this… and see if I will not open the windows of heaven” (Malachi 3:10). |
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