Dishonesty, Greed and Anger

July 12, 2007

These terms are inseparable. One leads to another. In politics, they are commonplace and accepted, at least in one of the major political parties. In business, these traits are a dangerous thing if one wants to survive. Unfortunately, many fall into their trap.

Some in business start out making a modest living. With some success there is a taste of what is to come. When there is even more success, greed is not far behind for some. Success and the financial reward that comes with it can lead to an insatiable appetite for more. This becomes the time when there are those who will do anything to keep the flow of money coming in. They will hire questionable people and make questionable decisions. They will lose long-time friends and alienate those that have always been there. They will cut benefits, lower pay, and lose quality employees due to their hunger for more. Nothing will stand in their way or stop them.

Greed unquestionably leads to dishonesty. Dishonesty is one of the most heartbreaking character traits one could possibly have in both one’s personal life and in business. In one’s personal life, dishonesty can lead to anguish beyond belief. One lie is covered up with another and another and soon nobody believes anything they say. Sure, we heard during the Clinton years that everybody does it and that it is even a good thing (hopefully we will not start hearing this again next fall). It needs to be done. There is no choice but to lie.

Wrong, not everybody is dishonest or needs to lie. Even though there are those, usually the most dishonest, who believe that everybody is dishonest. It amazes me how some dishonest people can fool some people so easily. Well, you know how the saying goes, you can fool some of the people some of the time . . . All dishonest people will eventually be found out. It will catch up to them.

Once it comes out in the open that a liar is a liar, anger is the next step. Anger because we dare confront the dishonesty. Anger because they have been caught. Anger because we are not supposed to question the dishonest or dare call anybody what they really are. Anger comes in the form of blaming others, not being able to take any responsibility, yelling, screaming, threatening and loss of one’s common senses. Anger is the climax of dishonesty and greed. Anger will ruin reputations, make laughingstocks out of once reputable business people. Anger will scare some and annoy others. It is meant to intimidate and frighten. Anger can lead to one’s downfall on a very short path.

Dishonesty, greed and anger are all connected. Sure, not a one of us is perfect. There was only One that was perfect and because of Him we are all forgiven, even the greedy, dishonest and angry. We just need to ask for forgiveness, and we also must forgive others. How can God ever forgive us for what we have done if we cannot forgive the wrongs done to us by the dishonest, the greedy and the angry?

“We would often feel ashamed of our actions if the world could see all the motives which produced them.”