In Acts 5 we find that two Christians, Ananias and his wife Sapphira, who were intending to copy the example of Barnabas and other saints by selling a plot of land and bringing the proceeds to benefit the needy of the Jerusalem church. However, unlike Barnabas, this couple coveted the notoriety of their gift but did not want the pain of charity. They conspire to pretend they are “giving all” when in reality they were only giving part of the proceeds. They attempted to deceive their brethren into thinking they had sacrificed more than they really had.

The apostle Peter accuses Ananias, the husband, of his sin claiming he had "not lied to men but to God Acts_5: 4. Maybe he thought he could do a little and look like a big man and no one would ever know. But Peter possessed a gift from the Holy Spirit, he was able to detect the truth and he exposed their dishonesty. No man can lie to God for He always knows the truth, the whole truth.

Our offering to God must be more than money. True, money is a part but is only a part of the Lord's work. What he demands in our song service is “the sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of our lips Heb13:15. Is God listening to our songs? As surely as He listens to our every conversation and sees our every action. He hears words of every song. Paul describes our song service as "singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord Col. 3:16. Our songs are directed toward heaven and they are received there.

For our songs to be a pleasing aroma to God, they must be sincere. The atheist could sing Amazing Grace but God would not be worshipped because the grace was not in his heart. We must worship in spirit and in truth John 4:23-24; that is, our songs must be from the heart. If you don't mean it, don't sing it

In the great day of reckoning, what if God calls our songs as evidence? Will they have reflected the thoughts of our heart? Or will they be evidence of hypocrisy and vain worship? That is a serious charge! Remember our story of hypocrisy in Acts 5 of Ananias and Sapphira who said they gave all?

We have promised God over and over that we will “Take Time To Be Holy” by speaking oft with him and feeding on his word. We must ask, how regular our prayer and study habit is. Or will the Judge convict us of singing insincerely?

When we sing “This World Is Not My Home”, do the words come from a heart  bowing at the altar of covetousness and the evil things of this world? Should God believe we are “just a-passing through” when we are busy heaping up treasure on earth and gathering nothing for eternity Matthew_6:19-21?

We sing “Blest Be the Tie that binds our hearts in Christian Love”. Do we mean it? Do we live it? Or do we not even consider one another and forsake the assembling together Hebrews_10:24-25? Do we live to gossip and backbite? Do we count the tie that binds as a noose around our necks?

We sing “Into Our Hands the gospel is given Haste, let us carry God's precious message, guiding the erring back to the right." But how can we say we mean it if we fail to utter the name of Jesus outside the meeting house? Why should God accept that song from us if we keep the gospel from man who are lost?."Would you be free from your burden of sin? There's Power in The Blood” Why then do we spend our time with things of this world if we truly believe the power that saves is in the blood, why flirt with anything less?

”Tell Me The Story of Jesus”. How dare we sing that in God's presence when we never pick up a Bible except when we are ready to go to church services. How dare we sing such words when we neglect Bible class?

We pledge allegiance to God “Beneath The Banner of the Cross”  "Marching on and on!" Where are we going? Are we marching into our communities, families and workplaces like Christian soldiers or have we declared neutrality in the war with the devil? If your faith never leaves the pew-- don't sing like you plan to march under the Christian standard all week.

Then there's the best one of all: "Are you Sowing the Seed of the Kingdom brother?” You had better be broadcasting the seed of faith (Matthew_7:1-5).

Conclusion:  God IS listening to our song service and we’d be wise to sing as though we mean it! Death is sure and judgment is final, are you ready to face Him?

Original Article by Jeff Smith, Edited by Bill Watkins