How do others see you or your business? What do
they really think about you?
‘You shall not steal, neither
deal falsely [pretend, take advantage of, or ‘con’ your brother], neither lie
one to another [use tricks and deceptions and tell lies, make false promises, or
seek to cover your real intentions].
You shall not defraud [keep, or
intend to keep, back what you promise to] your neighbour; neither rob him [of
what was agreed]: the money that you owe him or promised him shall not stay in
your pocket through a single night.’
(Leviticus 19)
Pretty straightforward words and
no messing about as to what they mean. The Bible is so precise and on target, especially
for these corrupted times, where even those who use the name of God believe
that they can behave in business and practise just however they want.
The commandments and laws of God
still hold today, along with the promise that God himself is the avenger of all
those who defraud their brother.
Sadly, the religious people and
the world play the same game, and there is no distinction or separation between
them. It is now commonplace for pastors, Christian business men and women, and ‘believers’
in general, to defraud, lie, steal, and make promises they do not intend to
keep or know that they cannot keep.
The very worst part when ‘Christians’
act in this way, is to add the words, ‘In Jesus name’, or ‘IJN’ (the cheap and
irreverent abbreviation so often accompanying texts and emails). It is a
convenient ‘scapegoat’ for them when their trickery fails to materialize. They
can simply offer the excuse that ‘It was clearly not the Lord’s will brother’!
The Bible teaches that a Christian should have a good report from among the believers, and more importantly, must have a good report from those outside who actually see more truth than the church-goers and pastors often see.
What is a ‘con-artist’?
It is a person who, at first, appears
to be good and honest, has persuasive and endearing characteristics, and comes
offering all sorts of benefits and promises of prosperity. They are ready to
offer you the world and all the blessings that money can buy.
They are (as their title suggests) ‘artists’. They are skilled in their approach, practised in their trade, manipulative in their talk, and come with big, confident smiles on their faces. They will talk about the things that interest you and tell you that they will help you to achieve your wildest dreams.
They have mastered the art of persuasion,
and know every trick in the book. Their artistry is actually what attracts you
to them. They have a beautiful gallery of success and
They have photographs of them
sitting next to important and wealthy people, letters of introduction from some
government official or some leading businessman. They may sport a nice car and
show off their latest acquisition, but their hearts are deceitful, and their
eyes are full of cunning.
The very worst and most criminal of such ‘con-artists’ are those who claim to know God and can speak eloquently all the words that seek to convince other 'believers' that they are only full of good intentions.
They will even attend church or special meetings, give ‘testimonies’, and use the name of God to sound like they are part of the ‘family’. However,
their hearts are corrupt and full of treachery, for if the light that is supposedly
in them is actually darkness, then how great is that darkness?
If a man or woman wants to be a
crook, and use tricks and scams to make themselves more comfortable and rich,
let them do so; but please do not bring God’s name into it, or bring shame and disgrace by
using it like a false signature on a rubber chequebook.
The confidence trickster takes
advantage of your honesty and willingness to believe that they are just like
you. They seek to convince you that they are innocent, caring, truthful, and
have your best interests at heart. It is of course a total lie. They use God’s
name as their bona fide.
The only real interests are their
own plans and their own safety. At the end, they will quickly sacrifice you,
and your money, to maintain their lifestyle and then run off somewhere under the
pretence that they are working hard to get your cash back or to make things
better.
What does God have to say about this?
There are many Scriptures that
tell us that their actions are ‘an abomination’ to him, their injustice and
unjust dealings, their false balances and pretensions, will all be brought to
an abrupt end; for God is the avenger of all those who defraud their brother or
sister. (1Thessalonians 4:16)
I would put all of the Bible
verses here, but I doubt if anyone will take the time to look them up or go and
see where they left their Bible last time they used it.
So, what is the end of the matter here?
First of all, if you are involved
with someone who calls themselves Christian, but who practises iniquity, then you had better get away from them and
break off all ties. Judgment shall come soon enough, but you have the
opportunity to divorce yourself from their unrighteous ways.
If you choose to continue in
their company, then you are a partaker of someone else’s sins. Do not be
surprised then if you also end up in trouble because of the sinner’s trickery. The
Bible says ‘Be not partaker of another man’s sins’.
Two cannot walk together unless
they are in agreement with each other. You have to choose which side of right
or wrong you are on. There are no ‘grey’ areas. Truth is truth. Light is light.
You can only have fellowship with The Light if you are walking in the light.
To walk away from deception is to
allow God to deal with the issue. If you have fallen foul of the tricks and
manipulations, have lost money, time, or become disillusioned by the false
promises, then you really do need to part company so that God can restore to
you all that you have lost. Do not cry over what has gone, for God is able to
give you much more when you walk off and sever the ties.
God can and will restore more
than you have seen fly away, when you obey him and trust that he is able to do much more
than you can possibly do yourself.
‘Come out from among them, and be
separate, says the Lord, and I will receive you.’
Fire and brimstone fell upon the
cities of Sodom and Gomorra, but only after Lot had left and went running for
the hills.
The deceivers can do all the
prayers they want, cry and shout, and decree all sorts of mumbo-jumbo, but truth
shall stand, and prevail. Cursing others because you do not agree with them, or
they do not agree with you or the company you mix with, will only bring
distress upon your own head.
I have been in prayer meetings
where the types of prayers offered are simply opportunities for cursing anyone
who speaks against them or their plans. This is nothing less than ju-ju and
witchcraft. You cannot lay a curse on someone whom God has blessed. Read your
Bible – discover the truth.
Let light shine into all the
darkness of deception and expose the evil deeds of those who profess to know
Christ, but in their practises (especially in business) they prove themselves false.
‘They profess that they know God;
but in works [in business and their profession] they deny him, being
abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate [castaways;
rejected].’ (Titus 1:16)
That is the Word of God.
JGM 2022
Telling it like it is
