Proverbs 21:6-7

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity.

Dishonesty

I. The evil of dishonesty.

1. A breach of the law of God.

2. An invasion of the Divine right of property.

3. An encouragement to indolence. The workshop is one of the finest fields for human development.

4. A certain development of selfishness.

5. A weapon for the destruction of mutual confidence. Men cannot trust those who are watching for opportunities to defraud them.

6. An incentive to other sins (Jeremiah 7:8; John 12:6; Matthew 26:15).

II. The remedy for dishonesty.

1. A renewed nature. The Spirit of truth dwelling in a man will make war against all dishonesty.

2. A sensitive conscience. Petty pilfering will deaden conscience with respect to this and all other sins (1 Timothy 4:2).

3. A realisation of the dignity of labour.

4. A due estimate of the value of human possessions.

5. A consciousness of the Divine presence and oversight.

6. A remembrance of the damaging nature of property dishonestly acquired (Proverbs 21:7). An act of theft often destroys self-respect, peace of mind, bodily health, and the soul itself. (H. Thorne.)