Tia Price

The recent damages created by the wind storm in Columbus, Ohio has catapulted many families in the surrounding area to the state of panic.  Mild to severe damage to roof tops and siding, fallen trees and limbs, as well as damage to personal vehicles are all visual sings left by the remnant wind of Hurricane Ike.  Some family residences and businesses have been without power four days or more, with relief not coming until Sunday in some cases.  Children in the Columbus City School system have been out of school this week due to the power outages.  Some families are experiencing a financial emergency due to having to throw out food, repair damage, and lost wages. 

One bright note in all of this is that the weather has been nearly perfect.  With temperatures in the 70’s during the day and a cool 50 to 60 at night, Ohio residents have not had to deal with rain, flooding, blazing heat, or freezing temperatures while recovering from the storm.  We should call be quick to count our blessings as others to the south and east have not been as blessed.

What a reminder!  This story has a very clear warning to those who are out to impress others by what they give.  We might have fooled others into thinking we are doing the right thing but God is who we should be looking to please.  Ananias and Sapphira, if they had lived long enough, would have realized this in the long run.  They got caught in the lies that they told.  They thought that the truth about what they were doing would remain between them, but God was listening and watching and he uncovered their plot.

What struck me in this passage was the part that said, “his wife also being aware of it”.  This passage leads me to believe that Sapphira did not come up with the plan but because she knew about it, God held her equally responsible.  Wives, husbands, and even children and business partners beware of who you are connected to and what they are dragging you into because they are associated with you.  If your know that your partner is doing something that is against the Word of God you need to do whatever is in your power to make it right and then get away (and pray for forgiveness for yourself and your partner).  If your husband does not pay tithes, you pay them.  If your business partner cheated in a deal, you call and make it right.  Just because you didn’t  “take the money” that does not absolve you of any guilt associated with the crime.

Wake people.  Stop giving excuses and blaming others, saying, “I didn’t do it” or “It’s not my fault” and take responsibility for your actions.  At the very least be careful of who you hang around and pay attention to what they are doing.

I’ve been studying James along with my Noon Day Bible Study class.  I read some verses in chapter 1 today that hit me pretty hard.  The verses were 14 and 15.  As I was reading I began to relate what the verses were saying to children lying and adults and credit cards.

The first time chidren are tempted to lie is a turning point.  Most often, once they begin lying it doesn’t stop.  They begin to think it is the easy way out becouse they are not getting caught.  Pretty soon they are doing it without thinking about it.  As they get older they begin to lie about bigger more important things like where they are going on a Saturday night or how they got into a car accident when they were supposed to be in school. 

Pretty soon they come to the point in which death enters the picture.  In this case we are not talking about physical death but about the death of trust the parents have for this child.  Thus is goes, they were tempted to lie, they wanted to continue to lie to stay out of trouble, the lies they told became increasingly greater in importance, and therefore resulted in the death of trust that their parents originally had in them.

In the same way, an adult can be tempted to buy something which they cannot pay cash for.  They purchase the small item such as a pair of shoes or a DVD and get the thrill of immediate satifaction.  Pretty soon they are purchasing small priced items reagularly.  Then the items become larger and more expensive like TV’s or vacations.  Pretty soon they are in over their head and become financially sick.  As they begin to receive bill after bill they realize they cannot pay for what they owe.  Now financial independence is dead to them.  They are slaves to their lenders.

It is amazing how quickly and easily we fall into the traps of the devil.  These two example are so common and widespread that we don’t even notice them as traps anymore.  We need to be alert and on our toes (1 Peter 5:8).  We need to be in God’s Word everyday so that we do not fall into the traps set by the devil.  Be armed with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God! (Ephesians 6:17)