Flow of Life

I was on facebook this morning, just like normal, poking around and skimming through the news feed learning about all of the important things going on in everyone's life. Well, mostly important. Or maybe not so important at all. :) Either way, it's entertaining.

I came across one status that read: 'Husbands and wives...be united and committed in every decision you make!' Sounds good, it seems like it would be a good idea to be on the same page when you're living life together. But, as is often the case, my mind likes to play with statements like that - especially when they come from certain folks, and place them in all sorts of different circumstances.

I should add a disclaimer that I am not married. I am dating someone - and we have made decisions together. I know it's not the same, so I am coming from a different reference point. So, read with a grain of salt.

I started playing the devil's advocate and thought, 'sure, it sounds good, but people, even spouses *gasp* are going to have differing opinions on some things, so every decision can't be united!' I know that's not even the point that was being made, but that's where my mind went. The status didn't say agree on everything, it said 'be united and committed.' It's a good thing - especially if there are kids involved. Not being united and committed in a decision is a great way to create animosity between parents and their kids - when one parent downplays a decision made by another in front of them. Not a good thing.

But then I was reading another facebook status that mentioned a pastor friend of mine who had written his sermon for the upcoming Sunday on Acts 5:1-16. The first 11 verses of that passage are about Ananias and Sapphira - a husband and wife that made a united and committed decision together - to lie to the apostles. The husband had sold a piece of land, and with his wife's knowledge, decided to tell a lie and use that lie to withhold some of the proceeds from the land. The thing is, he could have given or kept whatever proceeds from the land he wanted, but in order to, well, make himself look more generous I suppose, he and his wife decided to say that they had sold the land for a lesser price.

When confronted by Peter, who reminded him that the land and the money were at his disposal anyway, Ananias heard the words, fell down, and died. His lie had consumed him. Then, his wife later came in, and not knowing what had happened, kept up the same lie when she was asked about the land price. Peter had confronted her too - and she died just like her husband.

They had made a united decision and committed to it. This particular decision happened to be a destructive one. It's interesting how something that in practice should be such a good thing can be twisted and used for something harmful.

Fear seized the church. Fear often seized the church...and this is the first time the word 'church' is used to mean the fellowship of those who follow Jesus.

So, be united...commit...just make sure that you are willing to deal with the consequences that come if you are using your unity for less than honorable gain.