Proverbs 6:12-15 

¹²A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, ¹³who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, ¹⁴who plots evil with deceit in his heart—he always stirs up conflict. ¹⁵Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

Easy Money

            A scammer pretended to be a daughter of billionaire and deceived the elite high class individuals in New York. In the history of mankind, scam and deception victimized naïve people. Swindlers trick and steal money from reckless individuals who want to get rich quickly. Easy money is very tempting bait of deception.

            In comparison, a young person mindfully plan for her future. She invested in farming business. When asked how she choose farming business, she testified, “I knew nothing about farming; I never thought of living in the countryside. When I saw popular personalities who become very poor, I was scared. So, I prayed that God help me prepare for my future. With the help of my siblings, I invested and learned about farming business. It says in Ecclesiastes 11:2, ²Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

It’s wise to invest in several ventures; invest in business, individual talent or something you want to spend extended time. Before venturing in anything, pray for godly wisdom to choose what’s best for you, and to avoid scammers. Beware of easy money. Easy money is attractive temptation used by deceitful scammers.

1.  Deceit

¹²A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, ¹³who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, ¹⁴who plots evil with deceit in his heart—he always stirs up conflict.

            Be prayerful. Pray for wisdom to discern the will of God. If you venture in business, God blesses you; if, it is included within his plan for you. Have you ever ventured in business? I tried several businesses where others have thrived and progressed, but I failed. Why? I wasn’t enthusiastic; I didn’t spend much time.

            It’s wise to be prayerful to avoid such predicament. What should we pray for? Seriously pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit of wisdom and revelation that God reveals his plan for you, and you will know how to skillfully follow his lead.

Apostle Paul had prayed in Ephesians 1:17-18, ¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.

            In everything we do, (business ventures, employment, studies or everyday lifestyle) we need the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to live life in its fullness as God designed. When observers ask about our lifestyle, behavior or attitude, we simply tell them that we just practice faith in Christ. Eternal life with Christ starts now until forever. It’s our mission purpose to testify about the good news of God.

Naomi

            How do you appreciate the dramatic story of Naomi? When there’s famine in Canaan Naomi and her family migrated to Moab. Moab was located east of the Dead Sea. The husband and sons of Naomi died in Moab. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. She told her daughters-in-law, “Return home to your parents!”

            One daughter-in-law named Orpah kissed her goodbye and returned home to her parents. Her other daughter-in-law named Ruth replied in Ruth 1:16-18,  ¹⁶ “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. ¹⁷Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” ¹⁸ When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

            Naomi had no material thing to offer; she has become very poor. So, what has caused Ruth not to leave the old Naomi? Ruth may have been impressed by the testimony of Naomi. Why instead of her own biological parents Ruth took care of Naomi? Can you agree that God had caused Ruth to be concerned of Naomi?

When she told Naomi, “Your God my God,” she testified of belief in God.

How do you personally interpret James 1:27? ²⁷Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

When Ruth took care of the old widow Naomi, she exemplified a practice of faith in God. She did not crave after materialism; she just wanted God. Ruth was blessed for taking care of the old widow Naomi; her story is included in the Bible. She was the great grandmother of King David. Taking care of widows and orphans is biblical practice of faith in Christ that God accepts, not a disaster.

2.  Disaster

¹⁵Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

            What cause scammers to deceive? Maybe, love of money, poverty or desire to quickly get rich. Anyone who practices deception cannot simply get away from repercussions. The word of God warned that disaster awaits them. It emphasized also that deceivers cannot avoid punishment; and, there is no remedy.

                        Apostle Paul prophesied similar reality in 2 Timothy 4:3, ³For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

            They preferred motivational speech not sound doctrine; they’re deceived.

It happened among first century Christians; it happens anywhere in modern time. Whenever, wherever there’s genuine, there will always be counterfeit. Have you ever wondered why Jesus Christ chose Judas Iscariot as one of his Apostles?

            The Lord wants everyone to be saved. Christ gave Judas an opportunity to believe in him. It’s possible that Judas had sincerity at first, but materialism had tempted him; the love of money had deceived him.  It says in Acts 1:16-18, ¹⁶The Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷He was one of our number and shared in our ministry. ¹⁸With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 

            Judas may have thought that he profited when he sold Jesus Christ to the Jewish leaders. Judas served as prime example that disaster awaits malicious deceivers in an instant without remedy. Chronically, Judas was stealing money from the bag assigned to him as apostle. It says in John 12:6, ⁶Judas Iscariot was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

It is very advisable to be prayerful. Pray for godly wisdom that you may discern if someone is trustworthy or deceiver. Swindlers may take advantage, capitalize on kindness or appeal for pity to deceive unsuspected victims. When others deceive us, what should we do?

We were commanded in Romans 12:19, ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

 Avengers violate the commands: “Don’t take revenge and don’t steal.” Really?

To take revenge is stealing because God says, “To avenge is mine.” God promised he will repay. Pray for stronger faith in him and leave room for his wrath.

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