Pro 11:1 | KingComments | STEP | This verse is about doing business as it happens in the marketplace and in the store, that is, in everyday life. God wants all business to be done honestly. If it is not, it is “an abomination” to Him; if it is, it is “His delight” Here we see God’s personal response to how trade is done. The handling of “a false balance” involves shortchanging one of the members of His people. God here stands up for the wronged one. In His “weighing” of the seller’s behavior, He employs an absolutely honest measure. There is nothing in daily life that He is outside of. The lives of His people in their dealings with one another should reflect His attributes. Everything should be done in accordance with His will, that is, in accordance with Who He is as light and love. This also applies to commerce. Because commerce is about profit, about money, especially there the dangers of being dishonest are great. Someone can be driven by greed for money just like that. Charging a little more than the product is worth, delivering a little less product than was paid for, makes the profit greater. God knows His people and therefore wants them to use “just balances, a just ephah and a just bath” ( ). Throughout Scripture, dishonesty in trade is condemned ( ; ; ). God not only forbids it, but it is also an abomination to Him. God accepts one’s dealings only if they are honest. He pays attention to whether we give product for the money we charge for that product. Dishonesty runs rampant when God is not taken into account. A false balance is literally a ‘weight of deceit’. One who uses a false balance lacks sincerity of heart ( ). Being honest is linked by God in the law to the redemption of His people from Egypt ( ). Through the redemption, He made them His own people. Therefore, they must be honest as He is. Likewise, by virtue of our redemption from the world, we too, who belong to the church of God, should be honest in our dealings. Any injustice, any dishonesty, must be avoided by us ( ). This applies not only to material matters, but also when we have to deal with disputes or sin. Do we then apply an honest standard, or do we let family or friendship ties influence our consideration?

‏ Proverbs 11:1

Honesty in Doing Business

This verse is about doing business as it happens in the marketplace and in the store, that is, in everyday life. God wants all business to be done honestly. If it is not, it is “an abomination” to Him; if it is, it is “His delight” Here we see God’s personal response to how trade is done. The handling of “a false balance” involves shortchanging one of the members of His people. God here stands up for the wronged one. In His “weighing” of the seller’s behavior, He employs an absolutely honest measure.

There is nothing in daily life that He is outside of. The lives of His people in their dealings with one another should reflect His attributes. Everything should be done in accordance with His will, that is, in accordance with Who He is as light and love. This also applies to commerce.

Because commerce is about profit, about money, especially there the dangers of being dishonest are great. Someone can be driven by greed for money just like that. Charging a little more than the product is worth, delivering a little less product than was paid for, makes the profit greater. God knows His people and therefore wants them to use “just balances, a just ephah and a just bath” (Eze 45:10).

Throughout Scripture, dishonesty in trade is condemned (Lev 19:35-36; Deu 25:13-16; Amos 8:5). God not only forbids it, but it is also an abomination to Him. God accepts one’s dealings only if they are honest. He pays attention to whether we give product for the money we charge for that product. Dishonesty runs rampant when God is not taken into account. A false balance is literally a ‘weight of deceit’. One who uses a false balance lacks sincerity of heart (Pro 11:20).

Being honest is linked by God in the law to the redemption of His people from Egypt (Lev 19:35-36). Through the redemption, He made them His own people. Therefore, they must be honest as He is. Likewise, by virtue of our redemption from the world, we too, who belong to the church of God, should be honest in our dealings. Any injustice, any dishonesty, must be avoided by us (1Cor 6:8). This applies not only to material matters, but also when we have to deal with disputes or sin. Do we then apply an honest standard, or do we let family or friendship ties influence our consideration?