Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Partnering in Your Own Downfall

Proverbs 29:24
 
Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life, he swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.
 
What's the problem with a thief? They can't be trusted. No matter how many promises are made, no matter how many guarantees they provide, the thief will ALWAYS look out for their own best interest. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines a thief as someone who steals, especially secretly. Thieves take what doesn't belong to them. Anyone who knows me knows I love mystery films and shows. One of my favorite mystery sleuths growing up was the fictional character, Charlie Chan. God brought to my remembrance an episode of Charlie Chan I saw a few months ago. There was a thief who was angry with Charlie Chan because he had been caught stealing a lot of money. He escaped during his trial and became a fugitive. He made his way to a man who owned a wax museum as a cover but really specialized in remaking/surgically changing faces of criminals so they could hide in broad daylight. This particular infamous fugitive made all kinds of promises to the doctor/wax museum owner. The doctor/wax museum owner conspired with the thief to murder Charlie Chan. Essentially the thief "turned" on the doctor at an opportune time.
 
What's the point? Just as King Solomon said, anyone who partners with a thief hates his own life. The thief doesn't care about you and the fact that you partner with the thief says you don't care about you either. The thief will never give you their motives, their strategies and their ultimate goal.  You are simply a pawn in their game and whatever happens to you is of no consequence to them. The thief will sell you down the river to the highest bidder. So again, why partner with a thief? You are not just a partner in crime but in your own downfall often left to take the fall. Have you heard the saying, "there is no honor among thieves?" It's true, there isn't.