Getting Caught With Your Finger In The Fudge

When we're traveling through that dry and desolate valley of unemployment, it is so easy to begin to feel that you have nothing to offer prospective new employers. As the job search seemingly goes on and on we can start to believe that we are completely inadequate for any position. We're too old, not old enough, over qualified, or lacking the right experience. We begin to think the work world may have passed us by. We say to ourselves, "If I was a little more qualified I'd have gotten that last open position, or If I was just a little more experienced in this or that, or if I just had better grades, or a better degree, then a new job would be a sure thing."

One of the biggest temptations we face as job seekers is the desire to "fix" our resumes with a little fudging. Think of truth as a rock in your life. It's impossible to stretch a rock. Yet, Satan wants to tempt us to break that rock of truth and lie. Because no matter how it's justified or rationalized, putting something into our resume that is not true is lying. The devil is called a liar and the father of lies in John
8:44 (NASB95). It says, "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
In Proverbs 6:16,17 a "lying tongue" is listed as one of the six things God really hates. Later, in Proverbs 12:19 (NLT) it says, "Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed." When writing our resumes and presenting our qualifications to prospective employers, we must take that verse to heart.

Talking in Luke 16:10, Jesus said, "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities." (NLT) Even if we never get caught in the lie, God knows and keeps track. Lying is a way of saying that we don't trust God with the truth. He can't help us get a job unless we take it upon ourselves to "fudge," "misrepresent," or "stretch the facts." To do that and then ask God to bless us in our interviews or in the new job we've gotten through falsehood is just plain crazy! He won't do it. It is against His character. If you look in some theology book under the character of God, you'll find the word "veracity". It means God is totally true and truthful and that He cannot abide the sin of lying.

If there is some knowledge missing in your working experience, be honest. But you can also show that you are willing and able to learn, and that you are motivated to improve yourself. Check with your state employment offices and see if there is money available for training programs. Many states have programs for paying for workers who need to enhance areas of their understanding in order to qualify for available jobs. The government might even have financial incentives for employers to hire less experienced people and take on-the-job training. That information could then be taken into your interview and given as a benefit to the company for hiring you.

God is a rewarder of truth. He keeps the books and will bless your truthfulness. Ask for His help in keeping your resumes accurate and truthful. The fancy word for that is "integrity".

Webster's New World Dictionary defines integrity as: "1. A being complete; wholeness. 2. Unimpaired condition; soundness. 3. Uprightness, honesty, and sincerity". Keep this trait of integrity in your job search efforts and God will bless those efforts.

Guard my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed,

for I take refuge in You.

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, 

For I wait for You. Psalm 25:20-21 (NASB95)

He who walks in integrity walks securely, 

But he who perverts his ways will be found out. 

Proverbs 10:9 (NASB95)