Avoid Being Caught Unprepared in Church (2) By Babatunde Olugboji
This week, we will continue the series examining the gravity of sin in the Bible, a book, or a collection of books that is both thrilling and unsettling.
Believers often take a lenient perspective on sin. Why would what Ananias and Sapphira did, such a “minor act” result in death? However, the outcome of choosing to trust the serpent instead of God was the introduction of death for all humanity into the world. Similarly, God communicated to his people at Jericho, essentially stating, “Do not take anything from the spoils of war, for I am the one who secures the victory for you” (refer to Joshua 6:16–18).
Yet Achan noticed some appealing items among the spoils: a Babylonian robe, some silver, and a wedge of gold (Joshua 7:21). It seemed wasteful to simply destroy these exquisite items! Surely, no one would miss them. Thus, while no one was watching, he took them and concealed them beneath his tent. The consequence was death for him and his family (Joshua 7:25). 
In a similar manner, Ananias and Sapphira sold a parcel of land (Acts 5:1). They aspired to emulate Barnabas, who had sold a field and donated all the proceeds to the apostles for their ministry to the needy (Acts 4:36 – 37). More specifically, Ananias and Sapphira desired to be perceived as being just like Barnabas, without the necessity of sacrificing everything they had accumulated.
There was no directive within the church mandating the sale of one’s property, nor stipulating that any proceeds must be surrendered entirely to the apostles. Ananias and Sapphira had the option to approach the apostles and state, “Here is 10 percent of the earnings from our field. Utilize it as you deem appropriate.” This would have been commendable; however, it would not have matched the remarkable act performed by Barnabas. 
The desire to impress others is central to Ananias and Sapphira’s intentions. They aim to create the illusion of total devotion to God while secretly retaining a portion for themselves. This constitutes their transgression. They seek to leverage God as a tool to fulfill their true aspiration, which is to gain the admiration and respect of others. They perceive this as a minor infraction, a trivial falsehood, yet it fundamentally violates the first commandment.
In that commandment, God declares, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. . . . You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2–3). Ultimately, that seemingly “minor” sin, prioritizing their own honor over God, results in the loss of their very lives. Sin is a grave matter because our God is a magnificent and holy being, the same God who manifested Himself to Moses in radiant glory at Mount Sinai (refer to Exodus 19).
This framing helps us see why sin is so serious. We typically think of “sin” in terms of various specific sins: particular outward instances of bad behavior, acts that we then classify into sizes—small, medium, and large. Murder, adultery, and theft would be large sins; outbursts of rage, internet pornography, and cheating on your taxes might be medium-size sins; holding a grudge, everyday lust, and coveting your friend’s car are small sins. Sin is much more than a collection of proclivities.
To be continued.
Have a great week!
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