Better to Be Poor and Honest

God does not bless dishonesty. Proverbs 16:11 says, “The Lord demands fairness in every business deal” (TLB). That includes wages, salaries, and taxes. If you want God’s blessing on your finances, you must be honest about them.

The Bible also says, “It is better to be poor and honest than to be foolish and tell lies” (Proverbs 19:1 NCV).

Why is this an important principle? When you’re going through a season of financial stress, the temptation is enormous to toss out your integrity and to cheat in order to make ends meet. It may mean you shade the truth on a sale or exaggerate or deflate the value of something. It may mean you claim a false deduction on your taxes. It may mean you agree to receive your paycheck under the table.

You always lose when you make those kinds of choices. You always lose in the long run when you lose your integrity. And that’s what you are taking to heaven: your character, not your money.

Profit that is made dishonestly brings trouble with it. Why? If you rip off people, other people are going to rip you off. If you cheat others, you’re going to get cheated in life. The Bible says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7 NIV).

This decision to be honest about your finances is not something you make once and for all. It’s a daily decision. You’re going to be tempted to lie. Sometimes honesty costs you. Have you learned that? Sometimes it costs to tell the truth on a form. If nobody’s going to see the box you mark, does it really matter?

But God says that if you’re faithful to him in the way you handle money, you’ll never have to worry about your financial needs.