Why is honesty important in giving according to the Bible?

The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 serves as a stark warning about the importance of honesty in our financial dealings within the church. They presented themselves as generous givers while secretly holding back part of their profits, which resulted in severe consequences. This incident illustrates that lying to the Holy Spirit is a grave matter, as it damages our relationship with God and undermines the trust within the church community. True giving should be a reflection of a sincere heart and a response to God’s grace, not a means to appear righteous.