But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
Acts 5:1-6

Having written a few times before about Christian charity, Acts 5 opens with a dramatic account of a couple who wanted to appear to be more charitable than they genuinely were. They saw others selling properties and giving the proceeds of those sales to help the needy. They wanted to be thought of as being that generous, though they were actually not. So they sold a piece of property, gave some of the money, and kept back the rest.

That would have been perfectly fine.

But they said they sold a property and were giving all of the proceeds, when they had not. Big mistake! God killed the man (v.5), and later his wife (v.7-10). Why? For not giving all the money? NO. For lying, saying they were giving all the money when they were not.

Giving, whether a little or a lot, to impress people is just plain wrong. (Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:1-4.) The only correct motives to give charitably are: (1) As an act of thanksgiving to God who has given you enough to give to another; and (2) to help people in need.

Do you give charitably to help people? What motivates you to do so?