Guarding Against the Love of Money

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ‘

(Acts 5:3)

Yesterday, we began considering the life of Ananias and Sapphira. We’ve been trying to uncover what must have led them to act the way they did. Using hints from scripture, we identified the first possible cause yesterday: a strong desire to compete or compare.

Another reason we can identify is probably their intense love for money or wealth. Ananias and Sapphira were not immune to the allure of wealth and material possessions. They desired the appearance of great generosity, yet their hearts were tainted by the love of money. Their deceitful scheme to withhold a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their property revealed their true motives.

Picture it this way: the couple put up an advert for land sales at $50,000. Somehow, in their minds, they knew this land was only worth $20,000, but marking up the price gave room for negotiation. Luckily, the first buyer offered to pay the $50,000 without negotiation or bargaining. Suddenly, the couple became $30,000 richer than they had anticipated. At this point, be honest, how likely are you to act differently from them? The issue was not how much they sold it for, but that they lied about the selling price. The money was theirs after all.

There’s just something about money. If we don’t master the art of putting it in its proper place, it will seek to become our master. The Apostle Paul warns us in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. When we allow the desire for wealth to consume us, it distorts our priorities and leads us down a path of deception and greed. Like Ananias and Sapphira, we may be tempted to prioritise our own financial gain over obedience to God and care for others.

As believers, we must guard against every tendency of greed and covetousness. We must recognize that true riches are found in our relationship with God, not in the accumulation of worldly possessions. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot serve both God and money; we must choose whom we will serve.

Instead of pursuing wealth for its own sake, let us seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Let us cultivate a spirit of generosity and stewardship that recognizes that everything we have belongs to God and is to be used for His glory.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I confess my tendency to be drawn to the allure of wealth and material possessions. Forgive me for the times when I have allowed the love of money to take precedence in my life. Help me to cultivate a spirit of generosity and contentment, trusting in your provision and seeking first your kingdom. Guard my heart from the trap of greed, and lead me in the path of righteousness. Amen.