Ill-gotten gain

At some point in your life, you've likely come across someone who tries to prey on you - gaining your trust so they can take advantage of you financially. And seniors are often a target for these kinds of dishonest people.

Perhaps it's a contractor who convinces someone they need home repairs they don't need, or a financial advisor who embezzles money from a person's investments. It may even a family member who takes advantage of a relationship for their own personal gain.

God's Word has many cautions against dishonest dealings and gaining wealth in ways that are harmful to others. And we are wise when we keep these warnings in mind as we deal with others.

It doesn't mean that we distrust everyone, rather that we should be vigilant for those who are not acting in our best interest.

At the same time, we should also look at our own actions when reading these verses. It's easy of us to look at them and think, "that's easy, I'd never steal. I'm not that kind of person."

Dishonest gain doesn't come only in "obvious" forms such as theft and fraud. We must examine how we deal with money, and how we might use our position or power to our advantage, even how we pay taxes. We are called to be above reproach.

And whether wealth is gained dishonestly or honestly, we should not set our hearts on them. In other words, they should not be our source of hope and security. Our hearts are to be set on God, and our hope in him.