Better to Be Poor and Honest

In review of Proverbs 19:1, I'm reminded that  “It is better to be poor and honest than to be foolish and tell lies” (NCV).

A life of blameless integrity is far more valuable than wealth, but most don't act as if they believe this. Afraid of not getting everything they want, people will tend to pay any price to increase their wealth. Because I know and love God, I understand that a lower standard of living, even poverty, is a small price to pay to maintain personal integrity. I need to consider if my actions show that this principle is really true in my life. Are there any changes I need to make in order to keep my priorities straight?

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

This important because when I go through a season of financial stress, the temptation is to toss out my integrity and to cheat in order to make ends meet. It could even mean shading the truth on a sale or exaggerating or deflating the value of something. It may mean claiming a false deduction on taxes.

Making those kinds of choices will make me lose in the long run. I’d lose my integrity. And that’s what I’m taking to heaven: my character, not my wealth.

Any profit that is made dishonestly, will bring trouble with it. If I rip off people, others are going to rip me off. If I cheat others, I’m going to get cheated. What I sow, I’ll reap.

The decision to be honest with my finances is not something I make once. It’s a daily decision. I’m going to be tempted to lie. Sometimes honesty will cost me. Often it costs to tell the truth. However, God says that if I’m faithful to him in this, I’ll never have to worry about my financial needs.

In summary, it's better to be poor and honest, then foolish and telling lies. A life of blameless integrity is far more valuable than wealth. A lower standard of living is a small price to pay to maintain personal integrity. If I want God's blessings on my finances, I must be honest about and with them. God will not bless dishonesty. It's my character (integrity) that I will take to heaven with me, not my wealth. What I sow, I'll reap. Being honest with my finances is a daily decision. I will be tempted along the way. God says that If I'm faithful to him, I'll never have to worry about my financial needs.

My integrity and honesty is a quality that is not worth compromising on. It’s better for me to be truthful then to take advantages that I shouldn’t. I pray this morning Father for your Spirit to remind me to live with integrity always. I also ask you for your wisdom and guidance for my day, my work activities, my leadership and my interactions and responses to others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus Name, Amen.