You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God. – Acts 5:4, AMP

Scripture warns us time and time again that the fear of man brings a snare. We are so worried about what other people think about us that we make foolish decision after foolish decision just to obtain the approval of others. Like Ananias and Sapphira, we often engage in false pretense, putting on a show of holiness and piety for our church friends. Yet, at work, at school, and at home, we live like the devil, partnering with our own lusts rather than with God.

In his book There Is No Such Thing As Business Ethics, John Maxwell teaches that having different ethical standards in your business life and in your personal life is a farse. You are either ethical or you are not, and you take whatever ethical code you have with you into each area of your life. The same is true for holiness. You are either living for God or you are not, and if you pretend to be one type of person at church, you ought to be that same type of person at work, at school, and at home. If there is a disconnect between your church persona and your persona in other areas of life, you are no better than Ananias and Sapphira. You are lying to others in order to build yourself up, and you are lying to God as well.

God is longsuffering with our stupidity because He is merciful. But don’t test the limits of His mercy. If you know you’ve been lying about who you really are at heart, it’s time to stop lying, confess your sins to God, and make holiness your way of life in every aspect of your life.