Introduction. There are some things you just never forget! Many still remember the time a “trusted” friend took advantage or betrayed us. In our youth, we trusted everyone, thinking all had the same basic honesty, care, concern, and integrity we do. It never occurred to us there might be some who are different. But there are! Some are so selfish and narcissistic they can’t see the needs or feelings of anyone but themselves.
It is deeply disillusioning when our love and trust are betrayed by a “friend.” While some call this being naive, that isn’t really what it is! Those still in “God’s image and likeness” (Gen. 1:26) naturally seek to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt. 22:39). Their “natural affection” leads them to feel agape-love and trust for everyone. They are not naive; just reflecting true humanity.
It is deeply disillusioning when our love and trust are betrayed by a “friend.” While some call this being naive, that isn’t really what it is! Those still in “God’s image and likeness” (Gen. 1:26) naturally seek to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt. 22:39). Their “natural affection” leads them to feel agape-love and trust for everyone. They are not naive; just reflecting true humanity.
Yet the terrible reality is: some naturally have love and others selfishness. Some live to take advantage of others. They call us “suckers”, seek to “pull the wool over our eyes”, and “rob us blind.” To them we are just another “one born every minute.” Those with the “heart of a little child” (Mt. 18:4) and the disposition of a lamb have a difficult time among these wolves and serpents.
But we had to learn. We still remember the terrible feelings we had after seeing not everyone is honest or cares about fairness. The first time we were cheated we were left with an empty feeling in our heart. Adam and Eve likely felt this in the garden, for who could have imagined the serpent could be so evil? But he was! Those who cheat us are acting just like him!
But the children of God soon learn that not all feel as they do. Soon the amazement ends and caution and wisdom take over. Our proverb of “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me” captures this terrible reality. Jesus revealed “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Mt. 10:16).
This wisdom comes slowly, but after a few experiences we learn to be careful. If we want to feel good about a used-car deal, we have to have the car carefully checked. We do this because “an ounce or prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Most of us have become wary of the unscrupulous ways of this world. “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
But this hardly prepares us for a preacher or brother in Christ who cheat men out of their souls. Paul warned us to be very careful to “let no one cheat you of your reward” (Col. 2:18).
Just as an unscrupulous salesman will cheat us of money and a quack doctor cheat us of our health, there are some who would cheat us of our soul. All the caution we learned to guard our physical possessions must also be applied to our spiritual possessions. The day of judgment will be a sad and bitter day for those who have been cheated. For “many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Mt. 7:22-23)!
Think of it! Because of the hypocrisy and deception of men, “many” believe they are servants of Jesus and Jesus does not even know them! They have been “cheated” by “false prophets in sheep’s clothing” (Mt. 7:15-20), and “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2Cor. 11:13-15).
Why do people do this? Some “by covetousness will exploit you with deceptive words” (2Pet. 2:3). Others have “their own conscience seared with a hot iron,” (1Tim. 4:1-2) , “they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them” (Gal. 4:17), or they just want “to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:30).
Whatever the motivation, “they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error” (2Pet. 2:18-19) and “ruin whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain” (Titus 1:11).
It is a hard lesson to learn, but just as there were those in our youth who did not care for us, but only for themselves so there are in the spiritual realm. Not everyone is sincere and loves the truth as we do! So Paul warned us “Let no one cheat you of your prize.” Friendliness and smooth talk are the tools of their trade. Every false teacher wears “sheep’s clothing” and “transforms themselves into ministers of righteousness.” We have to be on our guard.
When people promise more than God’s Word, they are walking in the steps of their father the devil who did the same thing to our father and mother in the Garden of Eden. If they teach what the Scriptures do not teach, they are trying to exploit us and cheat us. We must always bear in mind that “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds” (2Jn. 1:9-11).
Jesus made wonderful promises. But they can only come true “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn. 8:31-32). For “in vain they worship me teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mt. 15:9). “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men” and “you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mk. 7:9). Such men are “alive and well” and living “in the lap of luxury.” For “evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2Tim. 3:13-14).
So, “beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8). We have been warned and must remain “sober and alert” (1Pet. 5:8).
But we had to learn. We still remember the terrible feelings we had after seeing not everyone is honest or cares about fairness. The first time we were cheated we were left with an empty feeling in our heart. Adam and Eve likely felt this in the garden, for who could have imagined the serpent could be so evil? But he was! Those who cheat us are acting just like him!
- You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (Jn. 8:44)
But the children of God soon learn that not all feel as they do. Soon the amazement ends and caution and wisdom take over. Our proverb of “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me” captures this terrible reality. Jesus revealed “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Mt. 10:16).
This wisdom comes slowly, but after a few experiences we learn to be careful. If we want to feel good about a used-car deal, we have to have the car carefully checked. We do this because “an ounce or prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Most of us have become wary of the unscrupulous ways of this world. “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
But this hardly prepares us for a preacher or brother in Christ who cheat men out of their souls. Paul warned us to be very careful to “let no one cheat you of your reward” (Col. 2:18).
Just as an unscrupulous salesman will cheat us of money and a quack doctor cheat us of our health, there are some who would cheat us of our soul. All the caution we learned to guard our physical possessions must also be applied to our spiritual possessions. The day of judgment will be a sad and bitter day for those who have been cheated. For “many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Mt. 7:22-23)!
Think of it! Because of the hypocrisy and deception of men, “many” believe they are servants of Jesus and Jesus does not even know them! They have been “cheated” by “false prophets in sheep’s clothing” (Mt. 7:15-20), and “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2Cor. 11:13-15).
Why do people do this? Some “by covetousness will exploit you with deceptive words” (2Pet. 2:3). Others have “their own conscience seared with a hot iron,” (1Tim. 4:1-2) , “they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them” (Gal. 4:17), or they just want “to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:30).
Whatever the motivation, “they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error” (2Pet. 2:18-19) and “ruin whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain” (Titus 1:11).
It is a hard lesson to learn, but just as there were those in our youth who did not care for us, but only for themselves so there are in the spiritual realm. Not everyone is sincere and loves the truth as we do! So Paul warned us “Let no one cheat you of your prize.” Friendliness and smooth talk are the tools of their trade. Every false teacher wears “sheep’s clothing” and “transforms themselves into ministers of righteousness.” We have to be on our guard.
When people promise more than God’s Word, they are walking in the steps of their father the devil who did the same thing to our father and mother in the Garden of Eden. If they teach what the Scriptures do not teach, they are trying to exploit us and cheat us. We must always bear in mind that “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds” (2Jn. 1:9-11).
Jesus made wonderful promises. But they can only come true “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn. 8:31-32). For “in vain they worship me teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mt. 15:9). “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men” and “you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mk. 7:9). Such men are “alive and well” and living “in the lap of luxury.” For “evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2Tim. 3:13-14).
So, “beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8). We have been warned and must remain “sober and alert” (1Pet. 5:8).