Daily Devotional for July 4, 2007

Proverbs 11
1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
(Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.)

I was playing dominoes with some little friends of ours, and one of the children was winning every single game. It didn’t seem to matter how things started, she always ended up without dominoes and “went out” first each time. My husband came into the room to say “Hello” and quickly observed that this person was slipping her extra dominoes back into the “bone yard” when she thought nobody was looking. He made some innocent and off-handed comment, like “I hope nobody’s cheating!” and the next game was won by another player. On another day when the girls came to play board games, they commented that “we have to watch So-and-So -- she cheats!” I don’t believe there was any cheating that day, but the dynamics between these children had clearly changed… the mutual trust level had been compromised.

I was also reminded of my niece and nephew, whose rare get-togethers at their Grandma’s when they were little usually included some games, especially “Old Maid.” Each accused the other of cheating, and they would fuss back and forth that one had to let the other win or they would cheat. We adults would laugh, because the competition between these two cousins was so fierce, and they would stoop to anything… even cheating… to come out on the top of the heap!

Now, these childhood moments of cheating seem relatively harmless. And in each instance, the children involved were gently reminded that “cheaters never prosper” and nobody will want to continue playing games with someone who cheats. But honestly, this basic childhood lesson is a valuable life lesson!

Cheaters… in any area of life… never prosper. You may seem to get away with something for a little while, but in the end, cheating destroys a person. It wears down your character. It can hurt your family and friends. It can ruin your business, and most certainly, it can ruin your reputation. And all the money in the world cannot solve a cheater’s problems.

So the next time you are tempted to toss extra dominoes in the “bone yard” of your life, remember this passage and how cheating is an abomination to God, and choose a righteous path that delivers you from trouble.

©2007 Debbie Robus