WHAT MADE YOU THINK OF DOING SUCH A THING?

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Acts 5:4

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

What Made You Think of Doing Such a Thing?

We live in a culture obsessed with image. We swipe through curated feeds, admire perfectly styled lives, and subconsciously calculate how to win the approval of others. It is easy to fool people on the outside. But scripture reminds us that God looks directly at the heart.

In Acts 5, we encounter a chilling question posed by the Apostle Peter to a man named Ananias: “What made you think of doing such a thing?” (Acts 5:4).

The story of Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, is one of the most sobering accounts in the New Testament. They sold a piece of property and brought a portion of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the entire sale price. They wanted the reputation of being radical, sacrificial givers without actually making the sacrifice.

Their tragedy offers a profound warning about the quiet dangers that lurk within our own hearts.

The Root Cause: Money and Praise

On the surface, Ananias and Sapphira appeared generous. But their action was deeply corrupted. The root cause of their sin against God was twofold: the love of money and the hunger for human praise.

They wanted to keep their wealth, but they also coveted the spiritual status of those who gave everything. This deadly combination set them in direct opposition to the Holy Spirit.

When Peter confronted Ananias, he didn’t just call it a white lie. He asked, “How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?” (Acts 5:3).

The Open Door to Evil

Once the love of money, power, and applause takes hold of a person, their spirit becomes vulnerable. Scripture is clear about this progression:

An Open Door: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10)
A Divided Heart: A person cannot love wealth and at the same time love and serve God. Jesus stated plainly, “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

Ananias and Sapphira allowed a small seed of greed and pride to grow. It eventually cost them their lives. They cared more about looking holy than being holy.

Examining Our Own Hearts

Peter’s question echoes down through the centuries to us today: What makes us think of doing such things?

Whenever we exaggerate our achievements, manipulate the truth to look better, or hold onto resources that God has called us to share, we walk in the same footsteps. God does not demand our perfection, but He does require our honesty. He desires truth in the inward parts.

Let us guard our hearts against the toxic mix of greed and pride. May we seek the approval of the Father alone, finding true security in His love rather than the fleeting applause of the world.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today asking You to search our hearts. Forgive us for the times we have cared more about the praise of people than Your approval. Forgive us for the moments we have gripped our money and possessions tightly out of fear or greed.

Holy Spirit, root out any hypocrisy living inside us. Do not let Satan fill our hearts with deception. Deliver us from the temptation to perform our faith for an audience. Grant us the grace to be authentic, transparent, and truly generous.

We choose to serve You above all else. May our lives be a true reflection of Your love, lived out with pure motives and clean hands.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Study Tools I Use

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Strong’s Concordance
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
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