The business I work at is for sale and the owner has gotten an offer. The possible buyer is coming to look the place over and I will be answering their questions. The problem is that I have been asked to keep quiet about several problems at the business. Problems that will be very expensive to correct in the future. I’ve been told not to volunteer anything and if asked directly, I’m to give out as little information as possible. Basically, I’m being asked to be less than truthful. I’m a Christian, I don’t want to lie and I don’t feel it’s fair to the potential buyer.
I feel trapped between what the current owner expects me to do and what I believe to be the right thing to do. The owner of the business is not a Christian and sees nothing wrong with asking this of me. So if I am truthful with the buyer and the deal falls through I will get the blame and maybe lose my job. And if the business is sold, I may lose my job anyway. Can you point me to scripture that can help me with this situation?
If you don’t respond truthfully to the buyer’s questions or knowingly withhold information that would be material to the buyer’s decision, you could be complicit in a fraudulent act. This would also be a violation of the commandment against bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16). And I think you are correct in your assessment. You could lose your job either way, especially since the new owner will eventually find out you were not honest with him.
Ask your employer to relieve you of the responsibility he has given you, and if he won’t then you must resign. Remember, when you honor God, He will not dishonor you. He will either help you find another suitable job or point you in a different direction. But in either case He has promised to meet our needs when we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:31-34).