July 2
The Price of
Dishonest Gain
“Wealth that is gained in the wrong way disappears. But doing what is right brings safety from death.”
Proverbs 10:2 (NIrV)
Ava’s heart raced as she pulled a ten-dollar bill from her mom’s handbag. She barely breathed as she shoved it into her pocket, glancing toward the kitchen. Her mom was chopping vegetables, humming along to the radio. She hadn’t noticed.
It had started small—just a few dollars here and there. The first time, she had panicked, convinced she’d be caught. But when nothing happened, it became easier. Her friends went to the movies most weekends, and Ava hated being the only one who couldn’t go. Her mom wasn’t made of money, and Ava didn’t want to hear another lecture about "being responsible."
But tonight, something was different.
“Ava?” Her mom’s voice cut through her thoughts as they sat at the dinner table. “I need to ask you something.”
Ava swallowed hard, gripping her fork.
“I’ve been missing money from my wallet,” her mom said, her gaze sharp. “Do you know anything about that?”
Ava’s face burned. She forced herself to meet her mom’s eyes, willing herself to stay calm. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “Maybe you just forgot where you put it.”
Her mom sighed, pushing her plate away. “I keep my wallet in the same place. And it’s always short by a few dollars. Ava, tell me the truth.”
Ava’s heart pounded so hard she thought her mom could hear it.
“I don’t know!” she snapped, standing up abruptly. “Why do you always think I’m the one who did something wrong?”
Her mom’s face darkened. “Because I know you, Ava. And right now, you’re lying to me.”
Tears stung Ava’s eyes. She wanted to run to her room, slam the door, and pretend none of this was happening. But the guilt clawed at her, heavier than ever.
“I—I just needed money to go out with my friends,” she finally blurted out. “I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
Her mom let out a slow breath, disappointment etched across her face. “Not a big deal? Stealing is a big deal, Ava. Lying is a big deal. Do you understand how much trust you’ve broken?”
Ava wiped her eyes, but the tears kept coming. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
For a moment, her mom just stared at her. Then, she stood up and grabbed her Bible from the shelf. She scrolled on her phone for a second before handing it to Ava.
“Read this,” she said, her voice firm.
Ava glanced down at the verse on the screen.
“Wealth that is gained in the wrong way disappears. But doing what is right brings safety from death.” – Proverbs 10:2 (NIrV)
Ava swallowed hard.
“You might think you got away with something, but you didn’t,” her mom said. “Money taken the wrong way never lasts. But what’s worse is the damage it does to your heart. Is this who you want to be?”
Ava shook her head, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her mistakes. “No.”
Her mom’s expression softened, but there was still a firmness in her voice. “Then you need to make it right. Every dollar you took, you’ll earn back. And I expect you to take responsibility for your actions from now on.”
Ava nodded, ashamed but strangely relieved. For the first time in weeks, she wasn’t hiding. That night, she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, whispering a prayer.
“God, I messed up. I thought I could get away with it, but I only feel worse. Help me be better. Help me be honest. And help my mom trust me again.”
The next morning, she offered to clean the house and babysit her younger brother, determined to pay back every cent. It would take time to rebuild the trust she had broken, but she knew one thing for sure—she never wanted to feel that kind of guilt again.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Forgive us when we make choices we know are wrong.
It’s easy to think small sins don’t matter, but they can grow into bigger problems that damage our hearts and our relationships.
Help us to be honest, even when it’s hard.
Give us the strength to make things right when we’ve messed up, and help us choose integrity over shortcuts.
Thank You for Your grace and the chance to change.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
