Honesty & Finances
“Honesty is often very hard. The truth is often painful. But the freedom it can bring is worth the trying.”
– Fred Rogers
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
– Proverbs 12:22
Why Do We Lie?
If you’ve spoken to someone for more than ten minutes today, odds are that one of you was lying. If that person was your mother, the odds of lying increase dramatically. From small fibs to huge, Hollywood-worthy tales of deception, lying is an enormous part of our lives.
When we lie, it stimulates three main sections of our brains. Lying activates the frontal lobe for its role in the truth-suppressing process, the limbic system due to the anxiety that comes from deception, and the temporal lobe because it’s responsible for retrieving memories and creating mental imagery.
It’s like a sophisticated team of con men all working together inside of your head.
– Max Knoblauch
“I don’t know why it’s so hard to admit it when being honest is the only way to fix it.
There’s no failure, no fall, there’s no sin You don’t already know. So let the truth be told.”
– Matthew West
An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.
– Proverbs 14:5
People not only lie about what they make and spend, but they lie about what they want to make and spend and they lie about what they think others make and spend. They lie about how important money is to them, how much they give to charity and how much they contribute to political campaigns.
– Phil Villarreal
Honesty & Finances | What’s In It For You?
Therein lies the power of truth: what is honestly looked at, no longer has the same power over us. Whether what is to be healed is a person or a nation, the healing power takes personal courage, and a willingness to face things not always easy to face.
– Marianne Williamson
No More Shame
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
– 2 Timothy 2:15
Some might think that debt shame is a good thing – after all, if you feel bad about it, you’re less likely to incur more, right? Unfortunately, it’s not so simple.
When consumers feel a deep sense of shame, guilt, and embarrassment over debt, an opposite effect can take place.
Instead of curbing spending and improving debt payoff rates, the embarrassment causes debt to fester unacknowledged and keeps consumers from getting the help they need to take control of their finances.
– Jacqueline Curtis moneycrashers.com
–
No More Hypocrisy
If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
– 1 John 1:6
Hypocrisy is the attempt to remedy a mistake without admitting it. Peter denied the Lord; but at least he never denied that he denied Him.
– chesterton.org
In other words, don’t be a financial ostrich. Stop deceiving yourself and others about money. Psychologist Susan Quilliam advises, “Get your head out of the sand and face financial matters head on.”
She suggests taking an honest look at “all your financial documents, from bank statements through bills and insurance policies, then make a list of any mistakes you’re making.”
You Will Have Freedom
And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
– John 8:32
It is simple to say, “I make total transfer of everything to God,” but not so simple to do. At first, anyone will experience some difficulty in consistently seeking God’s will in the area of material things because we are so accustomed to self-management and control.
But financial freedom comes from knowing God is in control.
Once someone experiences and lives financial freedom (meaning freedom from the bondage of debts, freedom from oppression of others, freedom from envy and covetousness or greed and freedom from resentfulness), that person stands out like a beacon at sea.
– Larry Burkett
You Will Know Peace
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it in practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
– Philippians 4:9
Peace will set you free from all negative emotions, thoughts, and people. Peace will set you free from the imaginary handbook of lies that makes you believe happiness is found within wealth. Peace will make you much richer than wealth ever will. Find your peace.
– thriveglobal.com
You Will Be Safe & Secure
The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.
– Proverbs 28:18
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
– Proverbs 10:9
I need to be honest. I am struggling with this one. Do I currently have enough faith to provide me with what I would consider financial security? In theory, my paths are not crooked. In reality, my financial security does feel very dependent on my 401K and other assets and investments. So, is my walk blameless?
When I place money in savings to achieve ever-greater levels of financial security, am I sacrificing my spiritual security? Can’t I have both?
Am I being a good steward (one who is blameless, doing the right thing, walking in integrity) or am I choosing financial security over spiritual security? Can’t I have both?
Am I forfeiting my safe place in the Kingdom of Heaven by choosing safety in the economic market of this world? Can’t I have both?
Keeping with the value of HONESTY, I need to continue to study and pray about this one.
You Will Delight God
The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.
– Proverbs 11:1
I remember many years ago my mother bought some curtains, and when she got home she realized that the clerk had under-charged her.
The clerk was astonished when mom returned to the store to pay what she owed. How do you explain that kind of honesty? Only God could make a person want to be that honest, so the glory goes to God.
Think about that: When people see our good deeds, our honesty in the business world, our refusal to take advantage or deceive or fudge the numbers, it causes them to stop and think about what makes us that way.
And that gives us an opportunity to glorify our Father in heaven. God delights in us when we have that kind of honesty in our business transactions.
– Mary Whelchel
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
– Proverbs 12:22
Honesty & Finances | What’s God Telling You?
Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart?
You have not lied to men, but to God.
– Acts 5:4
Click on the green tabs below to see some honesty-related Bible verses that validate God’s promises to you.
You Can't Hide From God
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
– Luke 12:2
You may be thankful that only you and your bank usually know how much you spend and save, but remember that God knows every detail and motive behind where your money goes.
Size Does Not Matter
Whoever is dishonest with little is also dishonest with much.
– Luke 16:10
Big or small, lies are lies.
Total honesty means no cheating or stealing, even in small things. It’s easy, even for Christians, to cheat or steal. The opportunity to cheat brings out the best in the human ability to rationalize.
– bible.org
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Use Money to Change Lives
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.
He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”
– Luke 16:14-15
Jesus is telling us as Christians to be even more generous and wise with our money than the people of this world. Do we want to spend our money on new things, new toys, electronics, new games and things like that, or do we want to use it to change people’s lives?
– fruitsofthespirit.com
The Devil Made You Do It
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
– Acts 5:3-4
The devil does not come dressed in a red cape and pointy horns. He comes disguised as everything you’ve ever wished for.
– HPLYRIKZ.COM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGKAaPM72UY
Deceitfulness refers to not only purposefully lying to others, but also not being entirely and openly honest. Our society seems to believe one cannot be both successful and honest. This is another lie promoted by Satan.
– Larry Burkett
Honesty & Finances | What Do You Do Now?
When you make the CHOICE to be an Ethical $pender and apply the VALUE of HONESTY to your MONEY beliefs and behaviors, you will want to face the truth and tell the truth. But, where do you start? Through scripture, God tells us what to do and what not to do.
Financial Infidelity
Are you cheating on your spouse?
When we think of infidelity, our minds go straight to the bedroom. But infidelity can hit the pocketbook and wallet, too, when one spouse spends, borrows, withholds or hides money without telling his or her partner. Such financial infidelity can damage a marriage just as much as the sexual type, if not more so.
– Judith Newman AARP
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.
– Colossians 3:9
Bring your brokenness,
and I’ll bring mine
‘Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy’s waiting on the other side
If we’re honest
If we’re honest
– Francesca Battistelli
Deceits Partners Admit They Commit
- Hiding purchases or receipts 24%
- Lying about a price paid 23%
- Spending money on children 22%
- Saying a purchase was on sale 19%
- Secretly withdrawing money 11%
- Secretly getting credit card 11%
- Covering up debt 7%
- Hiding a raise or bonus 4%
Source:
Real Eyes
Realize
Real Lies
– Unknown
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
– Proverbs 24:26
The Ethical $pender’s Prayer to be More Honest
Dear God,
Help me to realize, if I truly want to be an Ethical $pender, I must stop telling half-truths to others and quit lying to myself.
Teach me to be honest with myself, with others, and especially with You in all that I do and say related to money today. Of all the values an Ethical $pender may choose, I am finding out honesty is perhaps the most difficult one to embrace. You are the Voice of Truth. Help me listen and believe.
Allow me to experience the miracle that is inherent to honesty: When I am honest, I feel vulnerable and weak. It is in this weakness, that I will find strength.
Thank You for holding me in Your protective arms, wrapping me with love as I face my money management choices with honesty and accountability.
Amen
My biggest problem with money is that I lie to myself. I keep telling myself everything is going good and at first it is. Then I start slowly falling back into old habits but I keep telling myself everything is good. Eventually, everything is worse than before but I still keep saying everything is good, and then I’ve racked up thousands of dollars on the credit cards again. I don’t know what to do anymore.
– Connie | TheSimpleDollar blog post
25 Signs You May Not Be Applying Honesty To Finances
- You lie about how much something cost or how much you spent.
- You hide purchases from your spouse or other loved one.
- You boast about having your finances in order when, in fact, you do not.
- You are afraid if you are honest about money someone will walk away.
- You minimize the severity of your financial problems.
- You easily justify buying things you cannot afford.
- You blame anyone but yourself for your financial difficulties.
- You feel a constant pit in your stomach because of money worries.
- You are financially, emotionally, and spiritually drained.
- You act like everything is OK, when the truth is your finances are a mess.
- You feel embarrassed or ashamed of your financial condition.
- You try to protect your spouse or children from household finances.
- You avoid managing money because of some scar from your childhood.
- You lie to creditors and bill collectors.
- Your checking account is frequently overdrawn.
- You believe the money that has been bestowed upon you is your money.
- You fear someone will “find out” about your financial mess.
- You are living in financial chaos and nobody knows but you.
- You feel so ashamed and doubt that even God can help at this point.
- You fear you would be unlovable if your financial truth was revealed.
- You continue to buy your children items you cannot afford.
- You feel a subtle nudge urging you to face reality, to get it together.
- You care more about people liking you than getting out of debt.
- You have difficulty saying “No.”
- You feel like crying having read this list because something has hit home.
Recommended Reading
Ethical $pending does not sell or endorse any book or product. The following readings are simply recommendations and can be found at your local library or on-line.
Mind Over Money: Overcoming the Money Disorders That Threaten Our Financial Health by Dr. Brad Klontz & Dr. Ted Klontz
Whether you want to learn more about how to make better financial decisions, have more open communication with your loved ones or simply be better equipped to deal with the challenges of these tough economic times, this book will help you improve your relationship with money and live a healthier financial life.
Lying by Sam Harris
Best-selling author and neuroscientist Sam Harris argues that we can radically simplify our lives and improve society by merely telling the truth in situations where others lie.
Be Yourself – Everyone Else is Already Taken: transform your life with the powers of authenticity by Mike Robbins
Best-selling author and motivational speaker, Mike Robbins shows how you can overcome your fear about being who you really are and accept yourself without a mask, pretentions, bluff, or fakery.
This encouraging book will help you confront some of your own personal challenges with honesty and genuineness. It contains powerful ideas, principles, and practices that when integrated into your life on a regular basis can help you access a deeper place of truth.
Suggestions for Parents
Ethical $pending does not sell or endorse any book or product. The following readings are simply recommendations and may be found at your local library or on-line.
Liar, Liar Pants on Fire by Gordon Korman (1999). In this book written for school age children, Zoe’s desire to be interesting leads her to tell tall tales that make her the opposite of popular. When something exciting really does happen to her – like an eagle nestling in her backyard – no one wants to believe her! Will she ever find a friend in third grade?
How honest should parents be with kids about money? by Geoff Williams
Being honest with your child about money can pass along important financial lessons early in life. “Occasionally interrupting an idyllic childhood with some financial honesty may give your kid a much happier adulthood.”
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Ruthie and The Not So Teeny Tiny Lie By Laura Rankin
Ethical $pending
Your Choice | God's Miracle
JU$T LOVE
No judgment. We know it gets hard sometimes.
It will be easier once you find wisdom and gain understanding.
God will bless you in seemingly impossible ways!
Ethical $pending is a CHOICE to base your MONEY beliefs & behaviors on spiritual VALUES.