Scriptures: Acts 5:1-11
Reflection Song: “Imagine Me” by Kirk Franklin
What Had Happened Was…(the modern summary)
So Boom…(the revelation)
Loyalty and integrity. Those are two strong themes that arise in the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Women are taught in Scripture that the man is the head of the household and that the head of every man is Christ. But what does a woman do when the head is not operating in alignment with God? This is the place of torn loyalty where Sapphira finds herself. What we see in this illustration is that God is not only looking at the unit but at the individual as well. Sapphira was not condemned because her covering made a poor decision; she was condemned because she was complicit in the sin. When given the grace and opportunity to admit wrongdoing, she lied in the presence of God, resulting in her untimely demise. We must be wary of following the direction of those in positions of leadership when their actions lack integrity. Sometimes the people closest to those in leadership have more influence than they realize. Just because you are not the one in charge does not mean you lack a voice within your circle of leadership to create change. Sapphira was positioned as co-leader of her household to voice her concern about withholding profits from the apostles, and when given the chance to redeem herself and own up to the shared decisions she and Ananias made as a unit, she chose man over God. Let this be a lesson to us all: misplaced loyalty and silence in the face of compromised integrity are not without consequence in the presence of the Almighty God.
QTNA (Questions That Need Answers)
- What are some challenges that make it difficult to speak up when someone in authority makes a decision that seems out of alignment with integrity, whether at work, in church, or in your personal life?
- Scripture Recharge: “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.” (Proverbs 19:1, ESV)
- What steps can we take to ensure we are truly hearing the voice of God and not being swayed by the voice of others?
- Scripture Recharge: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27, ESV)
- Women are taught to allow men to lead, but that does not mean collaboration should disappear. How do you approach hard conversations when you hold a different view? Has that approach been effective, and what did you learn from it?
- Scripture Recharge: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4, ESV)
- Giving God what is owed can sometimes feel like a sacrifice, especially when it comes to tithing. Can you share a moment when honoring God with your finances produced a blessing or breakthrough that you knew only He could provide?
- Scripture Recharge: “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” (Malachi 3:10, ESV)
- Like Ananias and Sapphira, we sometimes test God without realizing it. Why do you think we try to hide things from an all-knowing God? What does our hesitation to lay our cares at His feet reveal about our trust in Him?
- Scripture Recharge: “Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’” (Acts 5:9, ESV)
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