Proverbs 19:5-6 (ESV)
5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,
and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
Solomon exposes the seriousness of dishonesty. A false witness is someone who deliberately gives untrue testimony, often in a court of law where justice depends upon honest witnesses. Whether motivated by self-preservation, financial gain, or a desire to protect another person, the liar may successful deceive those around her. But Solomon gives a sobering reminder: a false witness will not go unpunished. Human courts may fail, but God’s justice never does.
He repeats the warning using different words. The person who “breathes out lies” makes deception a pattern of life. She may escape the consequences in this world, but she will never escape the all-seeing Judge. God knows every thought, every motive, every word, and every hidden act. No lie is forgotten, and no deception is concealed from him.
Solomon then turns to the influence of wealth. Many seek the favor of a generous person because they hope to receive something in return. Others quickly offer friendship to those who freely give gifts. Such relationships are often driven less by genuine affection than by the benefits people hope to receive. Be careful not to measure friendship by what someone can do for you or what you can gain from them.
Jesus teaches us to view wealth very differently. Rather than using money to gain influence or impress others, he calls his disciples to use earthly resources for eternal purposes (Luke 16:1–9). Money is temporary, but it can accomplish lasting good when it is invested in God’s kingdom.
Consider the resources God has placed in your hands. How are you using your finances, your home, your influence, and your gifts to advance the gospel? Rather than spending your resources merely to make life more comfortable, invest them in what will outlast this present world. One day, you may be amazed to discover how God used your generosity to accomplish eternal good.