Dishonesty Is a Deadly Policy

(Proverbs 21:6 KJV)  The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

Recognize that the problem is not the “getting” (6467) of “treasures” (214).  Profit and wealth are not problems in themselves.  There are examples of this.  A simple one for you to examine is in Proverbs 31 in the description of the perfect wife.  She buys property, plants vineyards, manufactures and sells.  If that isn’t free enterprise and business, I don’t know the color of the sky on a clear day.  It amuses me to see people who criticize capitalism and have links on their blog so you can go to Amazon and buy the book they recommend criticizing capitalism.  I assume that they are signed up so they can get a payback for the link.  Other places Proverbs will address how the wealth is used.  That is not the focus here.

Once again we see that the issue is how the wealth is accumulated.  The problem here is in the “lying” (8267) {end} “tongue” (3956).  This is a Biblical business principle.  In the short run a business can lie and cheat.  There is money to be made.  But it is only temporary.

In the long run it will come back to bite them.    Illicit gain is a “fleeting” (5086) “vanity" (vapor NASB) (1892).  We all go shopping for bargains, or at least I assume we do.  There are times, though, where we want someone or something we can depend on.  Do you want the cheapest brand of tires from a guy who sells them out of his garage?  Would you buy a Rolex watch from a guy on the street corner?  Do you go back to the restaurant that made you sick?

This is a business principle.  It is also a life principle.  If you are this kind of business owner, you are in “pursuit” (1245) of “death” (4194).  How you run your business has eternal consequences.

So?  Be honest in your dealing.  Are you selling a home or a used car?  If you cheat the buyer then God is saying He will come back to bite you even if they don’t.