HONEST DEALING
Acts 5:1-11
V. 3: “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 5:1-11
V. 3: “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?’”
Mr. Graham, Jesse and Trevor’s 6th grade teacher, stood before the class. As the students filed in for a new day, emptying backpacks, and chatting with classmates, he watched silently.
“Mr. G. what’s up?” Jesse asked, raising his hand as he sat down.
The class froze—hearing Jesse speak, and looked at their teacher—curious for his answer.
“I’m waiting for your full attention, class.”
With everyone seated quietly, he began. Peering intently into thirty pair of wondering eyes, Mr. Graham offered, “I’ve got a proposition for you. What do you say to our forming a pact? If you trust me to teach and lead you honestly, will you agree to be honest students…no cheating on tests? No stealing things from another’s desk, no telling lies, no swearing?” clearing his throat, he allowed that to sink in. Tacking a large poster on the bulletin board entitled, HONEST DEALING, he turned around and offered a marker to Adam, sitting in the isle seat—the first of five rows. “Adam, will you sign your name anywhere on the poster?”
Adam took the marker and stood up smiling at his classmates.
“Before you sign it, Adam,” Mr. Graham warned, “remember there are sixty-two eyes watching you agree to our HONEST DEALING pact.” Adam hesitated, looking around. Biting his lower lip, he prepared to sign the poster. Reaching high, Adam signed his name in the upper right hand corner. Mr. Graham continued, “Class, each of you are to hold Adam accountable for agreeing to our Honest Dealing pact. If any of you catch Adam cheating, lying, stealing, or swearing, he must answer to you. That’s holding him responsible for his actions…Same thing for everyone who signs this poster.”
Adam walked haltingly towards his desk, and handed the marker to Brittany.
All thirty kids signed the poster.
Do you agree that Mr. Graham’s pact acted as moral guidance, keeping the kids honest? (See Moral Guidance devotion).
Take Home Nugget
In today’s Scripture passage, Ananias and Sapphira thought that they could get away with lying. They quickly and fatally discovered differently. They didn’t even have time to repent (vv.5,10).
The power we have to deal honestly comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. Righteous living is His will for believers, so that our lives show testimony to others. Proverbs 12:22 encourages believers to deal truthfully.
There are no degrees of honesty.
J.D. Griffith
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My background is a life time of worship, but seriously following Jesus came with age. Spiritual maturity is a leap of faith. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re missing until living on the edge of God’s leading. My life of self sufficiency ended abruptly when losing my job as an analytical chemist after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now living on the edge of God’s leading has become a way of life that I wouldn’t trade for anything else.
Surrendering one’s will to the Lord can be scary. Why did I wait so long to do it? Diving into an intimate relation with the sovereign God of creation is the most secure position in the universe. Will you share your experience with me? Will you let me give you my testimony? May I introduce you to the Jesus I know?