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Coping with Life 7 – Financial Security 2
Coping with Life 7 – Financial Security 2
By Mike Willis
The Bible presents several principles that are relevant to financial security. In the last article, I emphasized that one should be a GO Getter. In this article, consider the impact of this financial principle: “A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight” (Prov. 11:1). This proverb is based on the principle stated in the following verses: “You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt” (Lev. 19:35-36).
Balances are scales used in trading; the ephah and hin were measurements for grain and liquids. To illustrate the same point in contemporary society, a man expects to get a full gallon of gas when he pays $3.25 for it. If he found out that the merchant was only giving a half-gallon for the full gallon price, the customer would never buy his gas there again!
A second principle for building financial security is BE HONEST. Dishonest people cheat people out of their money in order to make more money than an honest worker should get for his product and labor. However, customers will soon learn from experience and from reputation that this person is not honest and will chose to do business with someone who is honest. The result is that eventually dishonesty costs more than it pays.
Another verse in Proverbs adds, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it” (Prov. 13:11). The ESV has a footnote beside the word “hastily” explaining that it could also be translated “by fraud.” The idea then would be “Wealth gained by fraud will dwindle.”
The wisdom literature instructs a man to be honest with others. The accumulation of wealth will take longer than the money a bank robber makes in one heist. The new car of the drug dealer may attract the attention of the foolish young man, leading him to become a drug pusher. But when the drug raid is made, the drug dealer ends up in prison and the government has confiscated his money, the point made in the Scriptures will be evident. One should build up his wealth through honest labor.
