Which other scriptures emphasize the importance of honesty in financial dealings? Psalm 15:5—Setting the Standard “He who does not lend his money at interest or take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.” Old Testament Foundations for Honest Money • Leviticus 19:35–36: “You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” • Deuteronomy 25:13–15: “You shall not have two differing weights in your bag, one heavy and one light… You must maintain honest and accurate weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” • Exodus 22:25: “If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest.” • Leviticus 25:35–37: “Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God… You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.” Wisdom Literature: Integrity Is Wealth • Proverbs 11:1: “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.” • Proverbs 16:11: “Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.” • Proverbs 20:10: “Diverse weights and diverse measures—both are detestable to the LORD.” • Proverbs 28:6: “Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.” • Proverbs 28:8: “He who increases his wealth by excessive interest lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.” The Prophets: God Confronts Economic Injustice • Amos 8:5: “…making the ephah small and the shekel bigger, and cheating with dishonest scales.” • Micah 6:11: “Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?” • Ezekiel 22:12: “In you men accept bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit on a loan and extort your neighbors for gain. And you have forgotten Me, declares the Lord GOD.” • Zechariah 8:16–17: “These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates… do not love perjury…” Teaching of Jesus: Faithfulness with Earthly Riches • Luke 16:10–12: “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much… If you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?” • Matthew 5:37: “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.” The Early Church and the Epistles • Acts 5:3–4: “…You have not lied to men, but to God!” • Romans 13:8: “Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love.” • Ephesians 4:28: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need.” • 2 Corinthians 8:20–21: “We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.” • James 5:4: “Look, the wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you…” • 1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil…” • Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have…” • Titus 2:10: “…not to steal from them, but to show that they are fully trustworthy, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in every way.” • 1 Thessalonians 4:6: “…that no one should transgress or exploit his brother in the matter, because the Lord will avenge all such.” Living the Truth Today • Honest bookkeeping, transparent contracts, and prompt payment mirror God’s justice. • Refusing bribes, kickbacks, or predatory interest keeps consciences clean and witness strong. • Generous, open-handed lending images the grace already received. • Contentment guards against the temptations that feed fraud. |
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