“I work as an accountant now (I became many things for the sake of Christ), and one of the hardest things to do is to keep an audit of my own life, not others — mine. And reconciliation of accounts is hell, thank God he didn’t care to count all our sins against us, because as I attempt to reconcile everything in our account as see why God reconciled us in Christ Jesus, it’s a lot easier to group things. But then God is God.
I bumped into the story of King Saul at the end of last month, and I wondered why this story. How, on his first assignment, half-obedience cost him everything with God. At the time, I couldn’t understand it.
But I stepped into someone’s life yesterday, and I would rather show mercy to his failure. That’s when I realized that I had kept a minute amount of money meant for God and gave it to my mom instead.
Then I opened to Acts 5 and read how Ananias chose to keep part of the money meant for the church — half-obedience, just like Saul. And it was as though God was saying, “If you don’t release My money, I won’t release yours.”
As minute as the sum was, God kept reminding me that it was to be used for His church, yet I was holding it back.
“We ought to obey God rather than men.” — Acts 5:29
I forgot that my obligations to God are more important than my obligations to man, even my parents, especially at the start of the month. And King Saul did exactly the same thing — he listened to the voice of men rather than the voice of God.
Many times, we are so careful to avoid sin, not knowing that sin is still present within us. If someone says, “I’m not charging you for something,” but uses the fact that they are not charging as a way to guilt-trip others into giving, it is still sin.
Cutting the long story short, we are all unworthy, and that is why mercy exists. When we recognize the truth about ourselves, grace helps us change.
That’s why when someone said I should condemn a preacher yesterday, I refused. I condemn the sin and expose the sin, not the person.
“And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” — Acts 5:38–39
Many kings started well. For example, Josiah did what was right in the sight of God, yet many before and after him turned away from the Father’s will. Preachers too may start well and later turn away. Ultimately, only God can judge.
What we can do is reprove sin without condemning the sinner.
The Bible says if your brother offends you, tell him privately first (Matthew 18:15). However, we should expose evil deeds being done in the church — not destroy the sinner, but address the deeds being done.”