Published by Ananias and Sapphira: The book of Acts gives us in graphic details, the life and time of these couple. They joined the body of Christ, worshipping and sharing things in common with them, they partook in every activity of the church, yet within them they had their own plans towards the group and the goings on within the church.
Today we have many Ananias and Sapphira amongst us and they act, sleep, talk, walk, like this couple in the times of the Apostles. When you tell many brethren to give willingly they come forward and stand with the crowd, only to give grudgingly, or out of a desire to be seen amongst those that came out for the call, the same kind of punishment that befell the couples in times of old still awaits any that falls under the syndrome. In times of old the punishment was instant, these days the lord grinds the mill slowly but steadily.
Aquila and Priscilla: Another graphic account of these couples life and time was given to us to study, because of the good works of these couple who gave up there home for the meeting of the children of God, they are constantly mentioned in the letters Paul wrote to the rest of the church back home. (Refer- Romans 16:3,1st Corinthians 16:19, 2nd Timothy 4:19). They were so committed to the work of God, following Paul about within the area where they occupy, this commitment so moved Paul that they are in constant reminder as an example to the rest of the believers back home and for constant prayers for them.
What about?
Phoebe: Romans 16:1-2
Dorcas: Acts 9:38-41. These two women in there own right stood out from the crowd for there good works, giving alms and offering help to the poor and needy. Many other names abound in the Bible, but let’s ask ourselves this question. Does my good works tell people the kind of person I am? The answer is YES, your kind of work tells people who you are and what you are, are you the type that performs only the kind of work done by the first couple above, the type of work that only benefits your pocket and not others, or the type that wants all and damning all others, Proverbs 22:1.
The book of Ecclesiastics 7:1 talks about a good deed been better than precious ointment. Also in verse 16 of the Acts 5, we read how the couple involved planed on deception as a means to keeping back a larger part of what was sold for there own use later. They felt they could get away with the deception, but not so with the Holy ghost, while the property remained in there care, not one person forced them into selling but they sold out of there own wish only to keep back what they had made as pledge. That goes a long way to show us that many give out of grudge and not from there hearts as the time of the Apostles of old.
The book of Ecclesiastes 11:1 says to spread our goods far and wide for we don’t know whence the result will come from in the near future. Israel was hit with a great famine, even the kings of the earth were not spared as the food situation got worse and many homes were dying of starvation, but only one household in all the land was eating and not feeling the impact of the famine, why? Because she provided out of nothing to a man of God when it mattered most, see 1st kings 17:9-16. Compare the Queen called Jezebel, her works were so evil that the whole land felt the impact of her evil ways, and the lord was not happy, since she was making others go astray from worshipping the lord of host, that is why she died a horrible and horrendous death where her blood flowed through the streets and dogs lapped it up with passion, just as the lord promised 2nd Kings 9:30-35. The Old and New Testament is filled with cases of such works and the punishment that comes along with such acts. The bottom line is that we all should try to do our utmost good works and wait for the good report of our works.
