As we get into the giving season, I think we should take a look at a passage related to giving in the church. This is the story of Ananias and Sapphira.

Acts 5:1-10

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet.

What you need to understand is why they would sell the property and bring the money in to the church. You have to look back a few verses to get the entire picture.

Acts 4:36-37

36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement),

37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

So Barnabas had just sold a piece of property, and brought all the money and given it to the church. Ananias and Sapphira performed the exact same thing, but had kept some of the money back! Of course, they wanted everyone to think that they had brought all the money to the apostles. They wanted everyone to see them giving! The problem was that they were giving to gain the approval of men.

Acts 5:

3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?

They lied because they wanted the church to think that they had duplicated the giving of Barnabas, and in lying to the church, had lied to the Holy Spirit!

4 "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.

6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

8 And Peter responded to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?" And she said, "Yes, that was the price."

You see, they had told the church that they had given the entire sales price to the church – but that was a lie!

9 Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well."

10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Don’t let anyone fool you – this was not about them keeping a portion of the proceeds! The sin was in telling the lie, and the mental attitude behind the lie, the lust for approval from members of the church.

There is no regulation in scripture as to how much a believer should give:

1 Corinthians 16:2

2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (Paul is talking about giving)

7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

What matters in your giving is not the amount – Ananias and Sapphira had given a great deal of money. But they had given the money just to gain the approval of the other people in the church. What matters in giving is the thinking and motivation behind the gift.