Money in the open
A teaching for couples · Acts 5:1–4
1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? 4Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”
Context
In the early days of the church in Jerusalem, many sold property and brought the money to the apostles to help those in need, like Barnabas, mentioned just before. No one was required to do this. Ananias and Sapphira, a married couple, also sell a piece of property, but they agree to hand over only part of it, presenting it as if it were the whole. The episode ends gravely, and Luke records it as a warning for the whole church.
What the Bible teaches
Peter’s question often goes unnoticed: “Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?” The couple’s sin was not keeping money or giving little. It was the performance: looking generous without being generous. Their money was free; the lie was not.
There’s another detail: Ananias kept back part of the proceeds “With his wife’s full knowledge.” They were united, but united in deception. Unity in marriage is not a value in itself; it has to serve the truth. The couple who agree to hide debts, fake a lifestyle they don’t have or dress up reality to look good before family and church repeat, on a smaller scale, the same mistake.
For money as a couple, the text suggests three steps. First, transparency between spouses: income, debts and spending in the open, no secret accounts. Second, freedom with responsibility: deciding together how much to save, spend and give, without guilt and without show. Third, truth toward others: living within your means, with no need to impress anyone. Money is a spiritual matter not because God needs it, but because it reveals what the heart loves.
In practice
Set aside an hour this week to lay on the table, without judgment, everything that comes in, goes out and is owed. Together, set three numbers: how much to save, how much to give, and the amount above which neither of you buys anything without talking first.
To talk about
Is there any area of our money where one of us hides, pretends or decides alone?
Prayer
Lord, everything we have comes from you. Keep us from pretending to be what we are not and from hiding from each other what we have and what we owe. Give us free, generous and truthful hearts, so that our money serves your kingdom and the peace of our home. Amen.