As a young loan officer, I was introduced to the owner of a local furniture store. Early on, I did not trust this person. His ethical practices were questionable, so I refused his loan requests.
Recently, I heard a commercial of this business advertising a “going out of business” sale. His advertisement made me grateful I never loaned this person money.
This is at least the third “going out of business sale” he’s held over the last 25 years, but, he’s never gone out of business. His unethical behavior continues to dupe people for his personal gain.
Proverbs 26:18 warns, “Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor and says, ‘I was only joking!’”
When you deceive people, your reputation and business will eventually suffer.