October 21

Written by Bill Grandi on October 21st, 2019

My title for this devotion is Honesty vs Deception.

It is not uncommon in today’s world to hear or read about someone getting something by deception.  Now. there are time deception is okay. To steal a base in baseball is good. 🙂 To strip a quarterback or running back of the ball is part of the game. To steal a pass or dribble in basketball is part of the game. But for those practices to be part of everyday life is not. Cutthroat living. “Behind the back” dealings. Blatant lies and deception are not to be part of how we treat others.

Proverbs speaks boldly about deception. In fact, in one chapter alone- chapter 20- I found three clear references to that. Listen to these words:

“Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” (v.19)

“Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good.” (v.23)

You can see the two verses are almost identical and certainly make the point: deception is dishonorable and dishonest. They remind me of the painting where something is being weighed and the merchant has his hand on the scale and the buyer is lifting up on his purchase. (Norman Rockwell maybe?) Both are wrong…of course.

While immediate results may seem to justify the actions, verse 17 lets us know the end is not “tasty” at all. “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.”  Yuk! The picture is rather graphic! “A mouth full of gravel.” How disgusting is that!!  Perfect example of the end not justifying the means.

“Help me, Father, to be honest in all things. To live a life without deception and dishonesty. To not think the end justifies the means. ”

 

3 Comments so far ↓

  1. Today’s political climate is rife with deception and dishonesty. I get so weary of it, and wonder when that bread will turn into gravel in the mouths of those who practice lies for the sake of power.
    Okay, off my soapbox!
    Blessings, Bill!

  2. floyd says:

    Cheating is disgusting. I’d rather have less and have some honor and dignity than have the world by ill gotten gain.
    Honesty honors our Father.

    A solid reminder. Thanks.

  3. Ryan S. says:

    I second your prayer Bill.