There is a tragic story in Acts 5 about Ananias and Sapphira, a husband and wife. They are seldom mentioned, but we can learn an important lesson from their mistakes. For those not familiar with their story, they lived during a time when the saints were trying to live the "united order". Ananias and Sapphira entered into this sacred covenant to live the law of consecration. They had the sufficient faith to sell their property. However, they "kept back part." thinking that no one would notice. Because Ananias and Sapphira “kept back part” of their proceeds from their possessions, they were both suddenly killed separately, but within hours of each other.
We usually tend to think of living the Law of Consecration in terms of material property and/or money. For many it will probably be very difficult to give all, and thus want to keep a little in reserve for themselves. There are so many ways of "keeping back part" and so many things we can withhold things from the Lord besides material possessions. The natural man's desire to "hold back" may occur even after one’s having given a great deal, as likely had Ananias and Sapphira. Even though we have given much, even "almost" all... many of us might mistakenly think it is all right to hold back a remaining part. Unfortunately, the remaining part is usually our will of the natural man.
Jesus allowed his will to be “swallowed up” in the will of the Father.
We read in Mosiah 15:7: “Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father”
"Some presume we will lose our identiy if we are totally “swallowed up”. Of course, our individuality is actually enhanced by submissiveness and by righteousness. It is sin that grinds us down to sameness- to a monotonous, single plane." Neal A Maxwell.
“When the will, passions, and feelings of a person are perfectly submissive to God and his requirements, that person is sanctified. It is for my will to be swallowed up in the will of God, that will lead me into all good, and crown me ultimately with immortality and eternal lives.”( Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. 2:123, April 17, 1853)
