Why Does This Cake Taste Funny?
A lot of people really enjoy cakes. Me, however, I have always been a pie guy – apple, blueberry, lemon meringue, coconut pie. You name it, if it’s in a pie, I’ll eat it- within reason, of course. My wife, on the other hand, rarely likes pie, but loves cake. A good cake has some key ingredients. If you look at most cake recipes: Two of the main ingredients include eggs and flour. You can attempt to substitute these ingredients, but in most cases you sacrifice the taste. With money management, if you miss one of the main ingredients, it can be much more of a disaster. Let’s look at one of the most important factors in dealing with finances.
Honesty
The first key ingredient is honesty. Proverbs 21:6 makes this quite clear:
“A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.”
If we are dishonest in our business practices, our financial matters, work life, and other ways we acquire wealth, we may may obtain wealth, but risk having it all wash away. Matthew 16:26 helps us sort this out: “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
When Dave came to see me, the look on his face told the whole story. He looked like he had the wind knocked right out of him. “Jay, I should have listened to you. Years ago when you gave me advice, I never listened, now this.” Dave’s financial advisor, Brad had attempted to hang himself after it was discovered he had stolen tens of millions of dollars from his clients. Dave, who had most of his life savings with Brad “the Northshore Swindler”, awoke to the news that he would probably never see much, if any of that money again. Lives were set in chaos because of the greed and lack of honesty that Brad took in his business. Like a house of cards, the whole thing came crashing down. Brad also lost everything: his wife, his radio station, his mansions, cars, and his freedom. He is now in prison for at least 20 years. Was it worth it? No amount of money is worth it when it comes at a price.
We need to be honest in all of our financial dealings: in our businesses, in the workplace, and in our financial transactions. Honest profits make good profits. Make it a top priority to be honest with your fellow workers, your customers, and those you interact with you on business and personal matters.
I wrote The Faith-Based Millionaire to help people obtain wealth in an honest, faith-based manner so they can experience financial freedom and give more to help God’s people who are poor and struggling. My prayer is that this book be used as a tool to change minds, hearts, and wallets for God’s glory! Please spread the word about this book and site.
Here are a few questions to ponder:
What are some areas of your financial life where you were not completely honesty?
What effect did this lack of honesty have on those involved? On you?
How could you have done things differently?
