Proverbs - Buying and Selling

Proverbs 20:14

It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way,

then he boasteth.

This proverb is referring to a seller who is being dishonest with a buyer.   This seller could be have merchandise that is supposed to be genuine buy may be an imitation.  He would tell the customer one thing and in fact the customer’s suspicions were accurate but he would dismiss them.  After the buyer leaves, the seller laughs and boasts that he ripped off the convinced customer.  This is an abomination to the Lord and we, as believers, are to honest in our business dealings.  We don’t hide flaws on merchandise we are selling and we answer things honestly to the best of our ability wanting anyone we deal with to walk away having been involved in an honest business deal.  We should never do things in order to get dishonest gain.  The Lord desires truth in the inward parts and truth is our standard in all our dealings.  We will represent our God of truth this way and when and if a person with whom we have done business finds out we claim to follow Christ, the gospel is glorified and maybe the person will be persuaded to investigate who Jesus is. 

When we are buyers, we are warned by this verse that there are people who do such things and we do not have to trust their word.  We should be very cautious when using the money that the Lord gives us and be sure that what we are buying is what we thought we were buying.  It is fair to examine merchandise and not believe every salesman we deal with.  We must pray for wisdom and seek to honor the Lord with our purchases.  The Lord knows the heart of man and He will help us not be taken advantage of.