Proverbs 20:14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
This passage of scripture refers to the sin of haggling that is quite common both with secular and religious folk. To "Haggle" means to go back and forth over the price of a desired item, with the intention of obtaining it for the cheapest and most unreasonable cost. Then after it is thus procured the buyer boasts of his so-called business acumen. The standards of the world should be no criteria for the Christian because the principles of God's kingdom are vastly different from the ones employed in the kingdom of darkness. The habit of searching for every miniscule fault with an item to be purchased from a person, with the intention of exaggerating the petty flaws for purposes of beating down the seller, is not a godly practice and should be dispensed with by the Christian.
To follow the laws and principles of God's kingdom in our everyday experiences is not an easy matter, and at times it may literally cost us if we intend to stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life. When purchasing any item that is for sale, the current value of the product in question should be investigated, and then a reasonable offer in the vicinity of the established value should be made. There are instances however when a buyer may come across a real bargain, in which the seller may be asking a particularly low price for a certain item. In such cases we can pay that which is asked, and thus procure a good bargain and a clear conscience at the same time, in other words, two for the price of one.
But there is another scenario that we should as Christians especially guard against, so as not to violate our consciences in any such business deal, a situation in which a person may have something of very great value, but they are ignorant of what it's worth, and so they may ask the buyer to make an offer for the item. In such cases great care must be exercised, lest we take advantage of the seller's ignorance and defraud them out of their highly valued possession. For instance, if a granny on south beach has a 1965 Shelby Mustang in pristine condition, with the famous Cobra jet 428 big block engine in it, and she is not aware of what she has, then if she asks a Christian who is interested in purchasing it to pay her what he thinks it's worth, then the Christian is under sacred obligation to price the vehicle at the fair value, and then make an offer in that vicinity.
But to look her in the eye and give her $400.00 dollars for a muscle car that is worth about $80,000.00, is a form of stealing and as such is registered in the books of heaven as fraud and dissembling. Another scenario is often played out with that same "Granny" who, for some reason might be in desperate straits, yet she is aware of the value of her Mustang, but because she is in a financial bind, a buyer who knows her plight then comes along and offers her one tenth of her asking price, because he knows she needs grocery money to survive. This act is also recorded as burglary in the books of heaven, because God is a Spirit, and the intentions and motives of the heart are figured into the final equation when evaluating the words and deeds of His people. Let's read:
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
It is therefore incumbent upon us to synthesize the principles and laws of Christ's kingdom into our everyday experiences, and especially our business deal, because the bulk of our relationship with God actually takes place in the everyday duties and transactions of life, where sterling characters can be built for eternity, through the grace and power of God. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which enjoins us to be honest in every transaction, and if we have failed miserably in times past, let us then ask God to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, for this is His good and perfect will for His children. Let's read:
Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!