“Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?” ~ Acts 5:9
REFERENCE:
As we bring our discussion about this flashy couple to an end, a sad commentary is the unholy agreement they made to defraud the church and to lie against God. Marriage is honorable among all, and spouses are meant to be helpers and a voice of reason. Blessed is the man whose wife is an Abigail and not a Delilah and the woman whose husband is a Boaz and not a Nabal.
Throughout my close to 22 years in marriage, there were times that I had very bogus ideas, but I was guided right by my wife. There have been times I was angry at someone and wanted to react accordingly, and she would rein me in. There were instances I struggled with giving God what I sensed He asked of us, and she would tell me to trust God and do it. Sometimes, the roles get reversed; we do these for each other. Ananias and Sapphira failed in this regard.
The power of a married couple is in their agreement, for whatever any two shall agree upon shall be done for them. The hitch with Ananias and Sapphira is that they used this privilege to commit fraud and deception. I don’t know who sold the idea to the other, but none rebuked the other that they should not do so. Neither of them held the other back, saying, “No!”
Who are the people around you? Who speaks to you when you seem to be going wrong? Who is your ‘safety net’ that keeps you on the straight and narrow path? Who is a sounding board for you? If you lack these, you may soon go down the wrong path. Are the people around you leading you toward God or away from God? Are they comfortable with sin or not?
Take an audit of the people in your circle; if you follow them in their ways, where will it end? Are you a positive influence on them? Solomon said, “When sinners entice you, do not consent.” Be wary of anyone who brings you into an unholy agreement so you do not share in their punishment. Sapphira shared in Ananias’ judgment because she was not discerning.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Matthew 18:19, Proverbs 11:21, and Proverbs 1:10-19
PRAYER:
+ Lord, surround me with honest and godly people who will keep me in the path of righteousness.
+ Keep me from any friendship or association doing me more harm than good.
+ Make me a positive and godly influence on those in my circle.
