Thanks man....but no thanks!

I had a friend in high school who was constantly getting me in to awkward predicaments. He would always promise me that he had a great idea that would benefit me and him and when I would go along, it always ended up benefiting him and leaving me in some embarrassing or uncomfortable situation. You may have a friend like this. By the way, it usually has to do with him or her wanting to see or spend time with a member of the opposite sex. You guys have friends like this too. Nothing makes a person more selfish in high school than a boyfriend or a girlfriend.
Anyway, I will give you an example. One night we were chilling and having a good time when the phone rang. My buddy answered the phone and talked for a while. He then said to me that he had great news. He had set me up with this beautiful girl and she happened to be over at another girls house who he liked. I was not really interested, because of his past, but I had nothing else to do but go. We got in his car and he steadily told me about how he was looking out for me and was excited about the possibilities of me hanging out with this girl who was supposedly gorgeous. Along the way, I actually did get a bit excited and anticipated meeting this hottie. When we got to the house, I of course checked myself in the mirror and we walked to the door. His girl met us at the door and told him she had a surprise for him. She told me that the girl I was to meet was waiting in the living room and they ran off to I do not know where. I walked around looking for the living room and when I found what I was certain was the living room, I was very confused. There was a living room set. There was a fireplace. There was a TV. There was a family photo. There was a girl, but she didn’t fit the description. I asked are you Rhonda’s friend? And she said yep! Needless to say, this girl was not only not gorgeous, she was not human!
I couldn’t wait to choke my friend for once again pretending to be out for my good while all along really wanting to promote himself with no concern for me! I’m still mad about it, but Im meeting with Pastor Bob Hamp for freedom ministry.
This acts example doesn’t end with Josephs brief praise, it goes on to show us how God views the self-centered who promote themselves at the expense of others. The odd thing about this example is that the people guilty, actually did do a good work, they just did it for the wrong reason. They were motivated by their selfishness that was at the center of their heart.
Lets look at the very next paragraph after Josephs:
Acts 5:1-10
But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.
Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”
As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”
“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”
And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”
Instantly, she fell to the floor and died.

Look at this example. Two people, members of the church, looked like everyone else. They attended. They sold their land and even brought some money and gave it to the church to use for the needy. From the external, they looked like they were progressing right alongside the others. The problem is the internal or the center. Ananias and Sapphira sold the land and brought the money so that they would look good in front of others. They did not do it to help people or to glorify God.
God responded by setting an example for us. God is not interested in your deeds that are done with ill-motives. God is interested in the heart.
Looking at your life from the outside in, are you someone who is answering the call, Love God love people or are you in this for your self promotion?