(Prov 22:28 NLT) Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.
This morning we continue our series, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” This is the 5th Saying: an Admonition on Moving Boundaries. Let me explain what this was about. When the Lord brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, He gave them a land; the land of Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey. Sometimes we forget that He also gave to each tribe a particular section of that land. And within each section each family in each tribe received a particular parcel of that land. The families then to put up boundary markers for their own parcel of land. This was actually similar to what surveyors do today. But while the land upon which my home stands today is marked off with sticks, back then the common boundary markers were piles of stones. The admonition here is to never succumb to the temptation of moving the stones to enlarge one’s territory unlawfully. To ensure the people knew right from wrong, the Lord, well before the Israelites arrival onto the land, said the following through Moses: “When you arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession, you must never steal anyone’s land by moving the boundary markers your ancestors set up to mark their property.” (Deut 19:14).
At the end of the day, this is a message about honesty and about refraining from cheating in business. Today you may not be tempted to move a pile of stones to get an unfair advantage in business, but you may be tempted to do other things. The bottom line for the believer is that we must NEVER succumb to the temptation to cheat. While there are obviously many unscrupulous businessmen (and women) out there, there must be something different about us. People should know us as honest, industrious, and hard-working men and women of integrity. Once your integrity is in question, most people of integrity will make every attempt to avoid doing business with you. And if you are not careful, you run the risk of losing God’s favor. The Lord hates dishonesty. Back in chapter 11 Solomon said, “GOD hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard” (11:1) and in chapter 16 he said, “GOD cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is his business” (16:11). Think about that for a moment. Many don’t make the connection between the Lord and their business. They see God as someone who they interact with at church, on Sundays, but not daily or throughout the week. That is a major problem, because either He is LORD OF ALL or He is not LORD AT ALL! Your family is His business, your health is His business, your overall wellbeing (mind, body and soul) is His business, and your business is His business. We don’t serve a God that expects to only interact with us at church. As a matter of fact, what we do at church should be just a small part of our relationship with Him. When we walk with Him daily, when we get Him involved in our daily affairs, when He alone sits on the throne of our lives, then it is hard for us to be deceitful in business. If you are walking with Him, speaking to Him, hearing from Him, and receiving His guidance, then how can you steal from others? If sin doesn’t bother you, then there is something wrong. The closer you get to God, the more you develop a distaste for the unrighteous.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that you should be honest in business and in every area of your life. Never violate your integrity, especially not for money, and never steal from anyone else. Whatever you compromise to gain, you will wind up losing in the end. So do what’s right, because it’s right, and then seek to do it right – everyday! Walk upright before God and man and you will be able to walk with God with a clear conscious, a pure heart, and clean hands.
Closing Confession: Father, I know that You desire to be part of every area of my life and I declare that I welcome You to do so. I want You involved in my family, my friends, my relationships, and my business. As I walk with You daily and You walk with me, I develop a hunger and a thirst for righteous. I also develop a distaste for the unrighteous. I shall be known as a person of integrity. I walk upright before You and man in business and because of it, I know that You will bless the work of my hands! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
