As we have been studying the biblical prophecies of the end times and how we can be prepared for them, we have also concentrated on the importance of having the truth and loving the truth. This is crucial because the biblical definition of the darkness that is coming upon the world in the last days refers almost entirely to deception or that which is not true. When the Bible talks about walking in the light, it is speaking about walking in the truth. It may not sound possible at first, but you can know and love the truth and not necessarily walk in truth. How can this be?

It is a far more subtle deception than we might suppose. I know people who love the truth of God’s Word so much that they spend many hours a week searching it for understanding. They esteem its truths as great treasures. This is certainly a noble endeavor and should be the devotion of every man and woman of God. However, I have met quite a few with this devotion who think nothing of cheating on their taxes, which is in conflict with the Scriptures they esteem so much, as we read in Romans 13:6-7:

A couple of years ago I met a group of believers who once were probably the most devoted people in searching the Scriptures that I have ever met. But they had rationalized not obeying the above verses because they did not agree with what some of their taxes were being used for by the government. Nowhere does the Word say to only pay taxes to the government who will use them righteously. If that were the case there would be no government in history to which we should have paid taxes, and that verse should therefore not have been written. In fact, Nero was Caesar when Paul wrote that verse. Nero was possibly the most wicked of all the leaders of Rome and the very one who was to take Paul’s own life.

When someone is prone to rationalizing the Word of God in this way it always hurts them the most. One of the ways that a spirit of poverty can gain dominion over one’s life is by cheating on taxes or not paying other obligations that are rightly owed. This is articulated in Proverbs 11:24: “...there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want.” Like it or not, taxes are “justly due” no matter what they are used for. If we are going to partake of any of the benefits of modern society or our national defense, then we should gladly pay our fair share of the cost.

Likewise, if we do not pay bills that are “justly due,” it will sooner or later cause our own depravity. This also implies that our obligations should be paid on time. It is a sure truth that when we hedge on such simple things, it will actually open the door to a spirit of poverty in our own lives, resulting in our own want.

Those whom love the truth will also be true in all of their ways. Our word should be our bond. I hear many Christians claiming Proverbs 13:22, “....the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” There are other biblical prophecies that speak of the wealth of the nations being given to the righteous. There is no question that this will come to pass, but it is important to determine who the righteous are. The Scriptures also make it clear that those who do not keep their vows are wicked.

I was shocked when I was shown the percentage of Christians who make vows to give to churches and ministries that actually do not keep their word. As Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, “When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it, for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.” Was this not the foolishness that brought the judgment upon Ananias, and Sapphira?

Christians are on the earth to represent God and to be His ambassadors. If there is one fundamental characteristic that is the nature of God it is that His word is true and He always keeps His word. As the Lord Jesus stated it in Matthew 5:37, “But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (NKJV).

I know a good number of Christian businessmen who do not want to do business with other Christians because of the way they have been treated by them. It does seem that many Christians purposely fail to pay their bills to other Christians because they know those Christians will have to forgive them. This may seem like an extreme statement, but it is far more widespread than most would imagine. As a ministry and as a church, we are continually subject to this kind of treatment by other Christians, other ministries, and other churches. It does hurt us, but not nearly as much as it is hurting them.

In the last few years I have had quite a few dealings with bankers, and even had a long meeting with the CEO of the largest bank in the country at the time. In every case it came up how these banks no longer wanted to deal with churches or ministries because they are such a bad risk. This was not the case just a couple of decades ago when churches and ministries were considered some of the best business a bank could have.

As the Lord Jesus also said in Luke 16:11, "If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you?” The way we handle our finances will determine the kind of true riches that we can be trusted with.

There is a reason why the mark of the beast is an economic mark. The love of money is one of the ultimate idols of the human heart, and those who worship it are worshiping the beast. One of the ultimate issues of true Christian maturity is learning to handle unrighteous mammon properly. It tests some of the deepest issues of the heart, which quickly distinguishes the true from the false.

I am thankful that there are still some Christian groups, ministries, and churches that are known for their integrity. These are the ones that the wealth of the sinners is being stored up for. However, I think we are going to be surprised at who the Lord classifies as the sinners. Since we are also told that judgment will begin with the household of God (see I Peter 4:17), we can expect that the wealth that is first transferred will come from many Christians, churches, and ministries, who have been wicked in this basic way.

Let us endeavor to always be true in all that we do, beginning with paying our taxes and paying our bills. If you are given too much change at the store, return it. To keep it is to take something that is not justly yours, which can result in your own impoverishment. This is one of those “little foxes” (see Song of Songs 2:15) that is easy to overlook—it is not only stealing much of the fruit, but ruining the vine.