Joe Slater
“The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps” (Proverbs 14:15). Sometimes the caller ID on my phone says, “scam likely.” Sad to say, hucksters by the boatload are more than happy to promise you the moon as they steal your identity, drain your bank account, and leave you wondering, “What happened?”
How many Nigerian oil barons need me to help them transfer a few million dollars to the US? Their emails promise that I’ll get a nice fat cut of the loot; all I have to do is give them my personal information (bank account number, routing number, social security number) and they’ll take care of the rest! The tragedy is that of the millions of emails the crooks send, a small handful will fall for the scam. Only when they discover their bank balance is zero do they realize they’ve been conned.
Heartbreaking as it is when gullible people lose their money, losing one’s soul to a spiritual con artist is worse. Jesus warned His disciples to “beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). We rightly commend the example of the noble Bereans who didn’t blindly believe whatever someone told them. Rather, “they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
Prudence requires us to consider well our steps. Just because someone said something doesn’t make it so – not even if it’s someone we like and have come to trust! Before
you believe and act upon what you’ve been told, investigate! Verify! Don’t be a simpleton!
Groveland, FL