How To Prosper With A Clear Conscience

“Money wrongly gotten will disappear bit by bit; money earned little by little will grow and grow.”
Proverbs 13:11 (CEV)

The headline was simple: “Keating’s sentence -12 years.”

The court had decided that the costliest Savings & Loan failure in history (a US$2.6 billion collapse) was the result of massive fraud committed by the former CEO Charles Keating. In addition to his sentence Mr. Keating was ordered to pay US$122.4 million in restitution. It’s probably safe to assume that if Charles Keating had the opportunity to do it over again, he’d think twice about putting profit before ethics.

There’s nothing wrong with making a profit. In fact, Jesus commended the man who made the highest return on his investment (Matthew 25:21). But there is a right way and a wrong way to prosper.

Here are four WRONG ways to prosper:

1. BY DISHONESTY. (Deceptive buying and selling)
“The Lord wants all weights and measures to be honest and every sale to be fair.” Proverbs 16:11 (GN)

2. BY DEFRAUDING. (Acquiring by trickery or pretending)
“Don’t hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.” Leviticus 19:13

3. BY DEFAULTING. (Failing to fulfil an obligation)
“Let no debt remain outstanding…” Romans 13:8 “The wicked borrow and do not repay.” Psalm 37:21

4. BY DEPENDING ON LUCK INSTEAD OF GOD. (Get rich quick schemes)
“The man who wants to get rich quick will quickly fail. Trying to get rich quick is evil and leads to poverty.” Proverbs 28:20, 22

Prayer
Thank you for the guidance contained in your Word. We know that this physical life is not about prosperity, and that ill-gotten gain is not a blessing, but a curse. Help us to depend on YOU.
Amen

Study by Fraser Murdoch