Liar, liar

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
Acts 5:1-5

The Church of Jesus Christ was brand new and thriving. Love was being lived out. The people had their perspective shifted to eternal things and thought it nothing to be sharing the financial proceeds that came from the whole sale of entire properties and possessions. It had not been commanded them, they just wanted to give in this super-generous way. Then along came Ananias and Sapphira. They were different from the others who were giving. Their whole hearts were not in it, but perhaps not to be outdone, perhaps not to be apparent as the only one still owning their property, perhaps for their reputation to grow in the community, they thought they could sell a piece of property and bring some of the proceeds. That was not the problem according to verse 4. The sin lay in the fact that they had agreed together to purposefully misrepresent the amount they brought so that it appeared to be the full price of the property. They did not even have to say a word, but in this act, with their heart's motive, they had lied to God and to the Holy Spirit. And both paid for it with their lives and became a warning and example to the members of the Church.

As a teenager I lied to my parents a lot in this way. I would present enough truth and leave out enough truth to misrepresent my actions to my parents. They knew I was going to sleepover at a friend's house. They didn't know we also planned beforehand to go to the movies (which I was forbidden from), and they certainly didn't know that although I'd left home fully clothed, that evening I was going to lose my shirt and be found wearing a tank top that ended above my belly button. When I came home, my tales of what we did and how we spent our time was just as edited as the first round of conversation, but at no time did I ever speak a false word directly.

Any presentation is dishonest, deceptive and lying when the motive and spirit of that act/word is to mislead someone, for the reason that one's acts or words are not upright before God. As a Christian, truth must be a defining characteristic of our life. Be careful to cultivate truth in your inward parts!