Taking It to Work:
One of the things that gets me most excited about what Jesus calls, “The coming age,” is that there will be no more scammers. Seriously, when sin and death are completely defeated, there will be no more swindling, defrauding, or cheating. Integrity and honesty will again be the norm where no one will need to locks on their doors, set alarms on their cars, or even hire lawyers to be on their side. Christ will reign, and underhanded people will be no more. What a great future to look forward to, and a great difference from what we live with today.
Actually, over a hundred years ago, it got so bad that in 1912, in the name of advancing trust and integrity in the marketplace, the Better Business Bureau was formed. Now consisting of over a hundred independently incorporated local BBB organizations, as that mission of keeping businesses honest carries on.
We need that protection too. I remember seeing an undercover video of a young lady being scammed at an auto repair shop. He sold her blinker fluid, or something like that, and an oil change and engine flush. They pulled the car into a crowded garage, and 45 minutes later collected for the work, with hidden cameras showing they never even touched the car. Made me sick to see how unbothered the guy was as he nonchalantly collected her money and let her walk out the door. And he did it with all the calmness of someone very used to doing very dishonest things.
And now that these types of low-class people can hide anonymously behind the internet, the temptation of unjust gain, is even more prevalent today. The love of money is still the root of current-day evil, and still destroys businesses, families and individuals with its lure of unrighteous gain. Many an otherwise good man, even those professing Christ, has fallen to the lie of happiness through easy, but not-so-honest gain. The Bible warns us that not only will that kind of gain bring with it trouble, but in many cases will be our demise.
True happiness and prosperity in life comes from God’s hands, not ours.
Often though, even knowing better, we are tempted to go about things in questionable ways because the near-term payoff is better. In the end, we may appear rich for doing so, and our bank accounts may be actually full, but inside we will feel just the opposite.
Don’t fall for it! Live and do right by God’s ways. Trust Him to prosper you and take care of your finances. Honest work pays the higher long-term dividend, and the comfort and peace that comes from that honest life, can not be undervalued, as His Word and His Ways work in you, today.
Rev 21:5 (ESV) – And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Proverbs 10:16 (ESV) – The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.
1Tim 6:10 (ESV) – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Proverbs 14:12 (ESV) – There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 15:6 (ESV) – In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
Listening to the Holy Spirit (Rhema):
Many are the ways of a man that bring profit. The pockets can be made full both righteously and unrighteously. Gain is not the end game. Understand that I am a God of righteousness, and I call you to the same. What good is ill-gotten gain – riches that fill the stomach, but do not satisfy your hunger? Eat of the tree of righteousness. Fill the harvest baskets with the fruit of right conduct, pleasing to My eyes; in this also, you will be satisfied. You know already that volume alone with poor quality, creates only larger piles to discard – trash meant first to be a treasure. Seek not for unrighteous gain, for it piles itself in worthless mounds all about you, and the peace of My rest is stolen, and the true joy of life buried beneath. Raise your head again and seek the true treasure of righteous profit, turning away from the way of the world, to My ways of honorable work. The wage of the honest servant, he who pleases My eye, will have for himself the reward of eternal crowns, and a peace on earth for work well done.
