Not-so-Great Clips

In ancient times, coins were made of precious metals—silver, gold, copper. Their value was tied directly to what they were made of. But some people found a quiet way to cheat the system: coin clipping. They would shave off tiny slivers from the edges of each coin. Just a little. Barely noticeable. But over time, they could collect enough metal to forge new coins for themselves. It seemed clever. But it was theft. The clipped coin still looked whole to the untrained eye, but it was no longer whole. And worse, it circulated—passing on the loss to the next person, and the next. And in a system where money was based on weight, everyone eventually began carrying around compromised money.

Coin-clipping may not happen physically anymore, but it is a very common practice in relationships—when people lie, manipulate, or take without giving in return. Many of us have been both the clippers and the clipped.

The Hidden Theft of Lying

We lie as a way to protect ourselves. We might reframe a story, "forget" a detail, or present a false version of an event—all in hopes of avoiding consequences or improving the chances of a favorable outcome. It seems like a small thing. Just a few words shaved off the truth. But the effect is deeper than we realize.

Like clipped coins, our words may still pass inspection. People may not catch on immediately. But lies create imbalance. They shortchange the listener. They misrepresent reality. And once discovered—or even suspected—they damage trust, which is the currency of relationships. Over time, repeated dishonesty produces a community full of suspicion, where no one knows the full weight of the words being spoken. We’ve clipped the coin, so to speak, and passed it along.

Intimacy & Fraud

There’s another form of coin clipping we rarely call out—but many experience it deeply. In intimate relationships, when someone engages physically and sexually with another person without the covenant of lifelong commitment, there’s an emotional and spiritual transaction taking place.

Sex, by God's design, is not just physical—it is a soul-level bond. When we do this without full and proper commitment, we counterfeit connection. We are enjoying the privilege without paying the price—clipping love of its covenant while pretending it is.

We take something sacred, fragile, and deeply human—and we use it for our own gain. It may look like love. It may feel like closeness. But it’s exploitation. It’s counterfeit. It’s a form of fraud.

The Bible doesn’t avoid this reality. In 1 Thessalonians 4:6, Paul warns against sexual immorality because it “defrauds your brother or sister.” It’s the language of theft. Of clipping a coin that isn’t yours to alter.

And when the relationship ends, as these often do, what remains is a sense of loss, damage, and devaluation. The person may question their worth. They may feel used or discarded. The pain isn’t imaginary. It’s the result of real, spiritual theft. They (and you) may still appear to be whole, but the reality is you both are less than you were before.

Restoring Value, Restoring Trust

We live in a world that teaches us how to clip coins—how to stretch truth, consume others, and cover it all up with appearances. And worst yet, how to normalize it.

But what if we did the opposite?

What if, instead, we restored what’s been devalued?

What if we taught others to do the same?

Integrity may cost us in the short-term. Telling the truth may expose us. Waiting for covenant may feel outdated. But it’s the only way to build lasting trust, healthy communities, and real relational wealth. Honesty and honor are heavy coins. They’re not flashy, but they carry real weight. And when they circulate—when truth, respect, and covenant flow between people—everyone thrives.