What are the consequences of dishonesty?

Joshua 9:3-6, 16-22When the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to deception to save themselves. They sent ambassadors to Joshua, loading their donkeys with weathered saddlebags and old, patched wineskins. They put on worn-out, patched sandals and ragged clothes. And the bread they took with them was dry and moldy. When they arrived at the camp of Israel at Gilgal, they told Joshua and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land to ask you to make a peace treaty with us.” . . . Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these people actually lived nearby! . . . The people of Israel grumbled against their leaders because of the treaty. But the leaders replied, “Since we have sworn an oath in the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel, we cannot touch them. This is what we must do. We must let them live.” . . . So they made them woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community.

Proverbs 12:19Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.

Proverbs 19:9A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed.

Dishonesty is usually exposed, because even the dishonest hate being deceived. Dishonesty ruins our reputation for being trusted, can cause us to lose friends, our spouse, our home, or our job, and in some cases can land us in jail. But ultimately, a pattern of dishonesty pits us against the God of truth, who won’t allow dishonest people into his eternal Kingdom. That is why few things are more important than practicing honesty.