As for Me and My HouseНамуна

Two Roads Diverged in the Hood.

College is expensive. Even with the generous financial aid package I was slated to receive, it wasn’t going to be enough. I needed money. I needed a job, and the sales position at a local computer store was a perfect fit. With a salary based on commission, I could make it if I sold enough.

On one particular day, I sold two computers and an alarm system, resulting in a commission triple my normal pay. At that pace, I dreamed I might even be able to save up enough to buy a car.

Buoyed by my sales performance, the mile-long walk home felt shorter than usual. I couldn’t wait to tell someone about my day. As I cantered down the block, I noticed one of my elementary school friends walking in my direction, so I stopped to greet him.

I relayed my story with all of the dramatic flair I could muster, but when I was done there were no “high-fives” or “atta boys.” He simply stared back with a look of confusion in his eyes. Eventually he asked, “Why are you working so hard? Just go on welfare. It’s much easier.”

From a strictly financial point of view, his plan made sense. The government had already offered me thousands to go to school.  Maybe I could let them pay for the rest. It would be another form of financial aid. “How do I sign up?” I asked.

As he explained the process however, it became clear neither of us were actually eligible to receive benefits. My friend had lied several times on his application, and in doing so committed fraud. I tried to explain the legal and moral implications of his actions, but he wasn’t interested. Unable to get him to see past the easy money, we parted ways.

Lies often come with potential rewards. For example:

• Lying about experience in order to get a job
• Lying about reporting expenses in order to get a higher tax return
• Falsifying income in order to get credit
• Using a different address to get kids into a better school district
• Exaggerating symptoms in order to get worker’s compensation

While lies always seem simple at first, they have a way of trapping you. Any rewards that lying offers are temporary. When we follow Christ, our rewards are eternal. 

Have you faced similar temptations? If you’ve lied in the past, what can you do to make it right?

For more help read, “How Do I Deal with my Guilt?” on FamilyLife.com.