Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

The Church hits a disappointing speed bump in Acts 5. The first 4 chapters continually reemphasized the togetherness of the church. The people had everything in common. They sold what they had for the common good. One team. One purpose.

Until we meet Ananias and Sapphira. They are a part of the church. They are with the right people in a time when it was not easy to be seen as Christian. But Luke tells us that the pair sold a piece of property, and while giving some to the apostles for the common good, they decided to keep some back for themselves. Now admittedly that doesn’t sound bad at all. I mean, we recently sold a house, so maybe I need to confess to you that we didn’t give everything from that sale to the church.

The issue here, however, is not the amount of money but the amount of deceit. Annais and Sapphira lied about how much money they had received so that they could appear sacrificial in giving while at the same time protecting their finances more than their faith. They wanted to appear to have faith but keep their finances as a back-up.

Does the strength of your faith dictate how your finances are handled? Or does the amount of your finances dictate how strong your faith is?

In one of His more memorable teachings, Jesus proclaimed, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 19:24. Sounds impossible right? Many scholars believe that there was actually a gateway into Jerusalem called the “eye of a needle.” This was a defensive gateway that would have forced a camel to stoop and have all its cargo unloaded before entering.

Just like a camel would have to bow down to enter through the gateway, our finances must bow down to God as Lord. Jesus could not have said it any more clearly, “You cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24. To what do you bow, faith or finances?

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflections:

• Does the strength of your faith dictate how your finances are handled? Or does the amount of your finances dictate how strong your faith is?
• Do you need to begin strengthening your faith in your finances?

Family Devo: Acts 5

By: Carrie Hobson

Yesterday in our reading, Peter and John were told to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. In today’s reading, we learn that they didn’t! They continued to spread the gospel and heal people. The Bible says that multitudes of men and women were added to the Lord. How amazing is that? The high priest and the Sadducees were jealous.

Again, they arrested Peter and John. During the night, an angel of the Lord appeared, opened the prison doors, and brought them out. The angel told them to go and stand in the temple and speak to the people. When morning came, they did just that. That day, the priest called together the council, and they sent officers to the prison for Peter and John. When they got there, they didn’t find them! The officers told the council that they found the prison locked and the guards standing at the door. The captain of the temple and chief priests were confused as to how that could’ve happened. Someone came to them and told them that Peter and John were standing in the temple preaching to people. They didn’t stop doing what they knew they were supposed to. The captain and officers took Peter and John and brought them before the council. The high priest questioned why they were still teaching in Jesus’ name. Peter and John told them that they must obey God rather than men. The council was angry and wanted to have them killed! One member of the council reminded them of a man who had hundreds of people follow him. After he died, nothing came of his followers. He told them that if it was just a man doing all this work, then they would fail, but if it was truly God working in Peter and John, nothing would be able to overthrow them. The council beat them, told them not to speak of the name of Jesus, and let them go. Do you know what Peter and John did after that? They rejoiced and felt honored that they suffered for the name of Jesus. And guess what? They didn’t stop teaching and preaching about Jesus.

There are people in the world who are just like the council. They don’t believe in Jesus. It might be hard for you to teach others about Jesus, but just like Peter and John, stand strong. God is always working, and no work of His will fail.

• Pray: God, help me to remember that Your plans never fail. Help me to be strong and stand up for You even when the crowd doesn’t. Amen.