Avoiding Greed and Deception

# Avoiding Greed and Deception

Mrs. Truong My Lan, chairwoman of the Van Thinh Phat Group, was convicted last Thursday of embezzlement, bribery, fraud, and violation of banking regulations in a case that has shocked the entire nation of Vietnam. The total amount embezzled through deception is $12.5 billion (10 billion British pounds), equivalent to nearly 3% of Vietnam's total gross domestic product. However, prosecutors report that the total damage caused by this fraud scheme has reached $27 billion. Ms. Lan was sentenced to death for her role in this fraud. This is the largest fraud case in Vietnam's history. In the court verdict in Ho Chi Minh City, it was noted that "the defendant's actions… have eroded public trust in the leadership of the [Communist] party and state." (1)

For Christians, the most terrifying consequence is making our Lord deeply grieved! God is displeased with dishonest business practices and deception; but He is pleased with those who are honest in their profession. "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight" (Proverbs 11:1). God's Word in Amos 8:5–6 rebuked His people, those greedy businessmen who were waiting for religious festivals to end so they could engage in unethical business practices. They said, "When will the New Moon be over so we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?—skimping on the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat?"

In the time of King Solomon, scales were used in business transactions and stones were placed in scales to weigh what was being sold or bought. Dishonest merchants would use lighter stones when selling and heavier stones when buying to determine the price of goods. Today, equivalent actions might be dishonest scales at vegetable and meat vendors, or fraudulent fuel pumps at gas stations. From a spiritual perspective, God's Word tells us that every deliberate act of "exploiting" others is a form of fraud. Unethical business practices do not escape God's attention and judgment.

Proverbs 11:1–8 describes the righteous life of the wise contrasted with the corrupt life of the unjust. The righteous person is virtuous and saved from all troubles and difficulties, while the unjust—those who are dishonest, deceitful, who scheme crooked paths seeking profit for themselves—their fate is truly tragic. They fall, they are destroyed, they have no hope at the end of their lives, and they lose their souls, just like Ms. Lan. "When the wicked die, their hope perishes; all they expected from their power comes to nothing. The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead" (Proverbs 11:1–8).

As beloved children of our Holy God, we cannot embezzle, deceive, or cheat others to seek gain for ourselves. God is all-knowing; He knows everything. He will punish the wrong we do. Jesus Christ taught, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money" (Luke 16:13). May the Holy Spirit help us distinguish between evil and good, always living to glorify God's Name; may He drive away greed from our hearts; may He grant us to live without coveting money, never seeking to defraud in society; may God teach us to live content with the blessings He provides each day, "...if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that" (1 Timothy 6:8); may He help us always live in a way pleasing to God, so that those around us may recognize God in our honest way of living and turn to believe in Him! Amen!

Embezzlement and deception—what use are they? Money and riches—what benefit can they bring? In a moment, it all vanishes away, What joy is there in how we live?

Each day examine carefully every deed, Does it align with God's all-knowing Word? Glorify His Name through how we live indeed, Trust and obey the Lord—this is heard.

—Ngoc Huynh Bich

(1) "Vietnamese property tycoon sentenced to death in $27bn fraud case. Truong My Lan found guilty of embezzling from Saigon Commercial Bank in case that was part of wider crackdown", Betsy Reed - Editor, Guardian US, April 11, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/11/vietnamese-property-tycoon-sentenced-to-death-in-27bn-case?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1

**Further Reading:** "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight. When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their own duplicity. Wealth is not profitable in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desire. When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nought. The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead." - Proverbs 11:1–8

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