They Stole It

In the US, we hear enough about the bankrupt future of Social Security. But at least it's not as bad as the scandal that just hit Brazil's senior citizens' savings.

One of the largest financial scandals in recent memory is unfolding within the Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social (INSS). This is Brazil’s social security system. Investigations have uncovered billions of Reais (Brazilian dollars) lost to systemic fraud—R$6 billion at minimum, and some estimates soaring as high as R$90 billion.

But what’s been stolen is far more than money.

I know that sounds ridiculous considering we cannot even imagine that amount of money, but hear me out.

Confidence in the system has all but collapsed. Any expectation of getting the truth and serving justice is all but lost. And the consequences are still unfolding—not just in spreadsheets and government reports, but in the homes, wallets, and hearts of everyday people.

And here’s what almost no one is talking about: How do you replace what was stolen?

Governments can’t simply work a little overtime or create new products to recover what’s gone. They can't raise taxes. I mean, they can, but they wouldn't be able to collect that much. So what do they do?

They print money. Or to be precise, they issue debt.

This doesn't just happen in Brazil. It is happening in every nation.

That debt becomes your problem.

It trickles down through inflation—devaluing the money in your account, the wages you work for, the energy you spend each week to keep up. It’s theft twice over.

And if you don't understand how this works (most don't), you might not even realize it’s happening—let alone how it’s shaping you.

Inflation Isn’t Just Economic. It’s Moral.

What is inflation, really?

Yes, it’s a financial term. But in real life, it’s a programmed erosion of your time and energy. It's an invisible hand reaching into your paycheck, your savings, your life—stealing value without asking permission. It's "normal".

And those doing the inflating—the ones at the top of the system—have the legal, institutional right to do it to you.

What used to take 40 hours of work now takes 45. Then 50. Then 55. You work harder, but fall further behind.

But you only have 24 hours in a day. So to keep up with rising prices, you sacrifice somewhere else. You pull time away from your kids, your spouse, your community, your church, your health, your rest.

This is the real cost of inflation: weaker relationships and distorted lives.

It fractures your time, and it quietly starts to conform your soul to the system’s incentives.

All while whispering: “You’re the problem.”

Gaslighted by the Grind

Many people today feel burned out and ashamed—like they’re failing, falling short, not smart enough to make it. They wonder why they can’t seem to win at a game everyone else appears to be playing just fine.

But the truth is, the game is rigged (and appearance isn't everything).

Inflation has become so normalized that most people don’t realize how much it’s warping their decisions and damaging their peace of mind. And because they don’t know what’s happening, they assume it must be their fault.

It’s not.

You are not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re navigating a dishonest system that punishes savers, rewards debt, and quietly moves the goalposts year after year.

And once you start to see that clearly, you realize the answer is not to hustle harder. The answer is to live by a different standard.

Honest Weights in a Dishonest World

The Bible has a lot to say about money—and even more to say about integrity.

“Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” Proverbs 20:10

In biblical times, dishonest merchants would rig their scales to shortchange customers. The practice was condemned not just as unfair—but as abominable. Why? Because it corrupts trust. It violates truth. It distorts value.

Today, the scales aren’t physical—they’re digital, institutional, and opaque.

But the result is the same: the people who know how to play the game, play the game. And those who don't get played.

This is where the Kingdom of God collides with the kingdoms of this world. Jesus didn’t come to make you rich— He came to teach you to live free from corruption, compromise, and control.

Where Your Treasure Is… There Your Heart Will Be

Jesus said it plainly:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

If your treasure is stored in a dishonest system, your heart will be shaped by it—pressured, distracted, stretched thin, conformed to play along to the unethical rules of the game.

But if your treasure is in the Kingdom—truth, compassion, honesty, love—your heart will be drawn into something pure and eternal. Something dignifying. Something stable.

This is not just about money. It’s about the kind of person you’re becoming. It’s about how money influences your mind, your character, and your calling.

You Can’t Exit, But You Can Resist

Let’s be honest: there’s no perfect escape hatch.

We’re born into this system. We earn, save, buy, and live in a world built on fiat currency, fractional reserve banking, and government-issued debt.

You can’t pack your bags and move to another planet. You can’t wave a magic wand and make central banking disappear.

But you can resist. And that resistance starts not in the streets—but in your soul.

“As much as it depends on you, live at peace with those around you.”

As much as it depends on you...

That includes resisting the pressure to chase what everyone else is chasing.

• Live within your means, not beyond your future.

• Say no to unnecessary debt—especially consumer debt.

• Take back your time—from your phone, your boss, and lifestyle creep.

• Invest in people, not just portfolios.

• Embrace contentment over comparison.

• Practice kingdom ethics in how you work, give, save, and rest.

This won’t always look flashy. You may not keep up with the Joneses. You may not have what culture calls “success.” But you’ll have something much better: peace, presence, and integrity. And that is priceless.

You Are Not a Victim. You Are a Steward.

Here’s what I want you to know:

You’re not crazy. But you’re not powerless either.

You can push back against the tide of corruption by choosing integrity in a dishonest world. You can prioritize long-term faithfulness over short-term, commercialized appearances and convenience. You can build value in the places that aren't measured by dollars—relationships, character, truth, worship, wisdom, and love.

And you can trust that when you live by the principles of God’s economy, you will receive what His economy produces. Not always in dollars, but always in depth.

You may not change the whole world overnight.

But you can change your life. You can live by a different metric. You can start a ripple.

That’s how you win. That’s how real value is built. That is how you take back what was stolen.