From the very beginning, the enemy has used half-truths to lead God’s people astray. In Genesis 3, Satan approached Eve not with a blatant denial of God’s Word, but with a subtle distortion: “Did God really say...?” That single question sowed doubt, twisting what God had spoken into something that only looked like truth.

That strategy hasn’t changed. Today, we hear phrases that sound biblical, but aren’t actually in the Bible. These words get passed down as though they were Scripture. They sound spiritual, and sometimes even wise, but they miss the heart of God’s Word.

When it comes to financial stewardship, these sayings can subtly shape how we perceive money, generosity, and God’s provision. That’s why it’s so important to know not just about the Bible, but what it really says.

And one of the best illustrations of this comes from a surprising story about counterfeits.

A LESSON FROM CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

In the film Catch Me If You Can, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale Jr., a young man who spends years deceiving companies, banks, and even the government. He poses as a doctor, a lawyer, and most famously, an airline pilot—all without training or credentials. His schemes bring him millions of dollars, all built on lies and forged checks.

Eventually, the FBI catches him. But instead of keeping him in prison, they hire him. 

Why? Because Frank knew the counterfeit better than anyone else. His ability to spot fake checks—and to know what separated the false from the genuine—was unmatched.

For us as believers, the parallel is clear. We live in a world full of counterfeits—ideas that sound spiritual but don’t come from God’s Word. To walk in freedom, we need to know the real thing so well that we can recognize the false when it shows up.

WHY WE NEED TO KNOW THE REAL THING When it comes to finances, these counterfeits often shape our thinking without us realizing it. Take the phrase, “Money is the root of all evil.” That’s not what Scripture says. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:10, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” It’s not money itself that corrupts—it’s the misplaced devotion to it. Here’s another: “God helps those who help themselves.” You won’t find that anywhere in the Bible. In fact, the gospel says the opposite. God helps the helpless, showing grace in our weakness and providing what we could never accomplish on our own. When applied to finances, this subtle lie can shift us toward self-reliance instead of dependence on God.  Another common one is: “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” It sounds comforting, but it’s not what Scripture teaches. In fact, Paul says the opposite in 2 Corinthians 1:8–9, describing a time when he was burdened beyond his ability to endure, to the point of despairing of life itself.

The danger with all of these quotes isn’t just the words themselves—it’s the way they shape our view of God, money, and our role as stewards.

Why? “So that we would not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” 

Even seemingly harmless sayings like “Let Go and Let God” can end up swinging to the other side of the pendulum: passivity. While faith and trust are essential, Scripture also calls us to act wisely with what He provides. As J. I. Packer once put it: “The Christian’s motto should not be ‘Let go and let God’ but ‘Trust God and get going.’”

The danger with all of these quotes isn’t just the words themselves—it’s the way they shape our view of God, money, and our role as stewards.

WALKING IN FREEDOM THROUGH GOD’S WORD

Counterfeits only have power when we don’t know the truth. That’s why Scripture calls us to be rooted in God’s Word.

Jesus prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” Paul instructed Timothy to “rightly handle the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). If we want to be faithful stewards—of both our money and our lives—we must first and foremost steward God’s Word well.

This doesn’t mean memorizing verses solely for the sake of knowledge. It means letting it shape our worldview so that when we hear something that sounds spiritual but isn’t scriptural or aligned with God’s character, we can recognize the counterfeit.

Every misquote, every halftruth, ultimately points us back to the same question the enemy whispered in the garden: “Did God really say...?” Our freedom, our finances, and our faith are all safeguarded when we respond with confidence: “Yes—this is what the Lord has said.”

Counterfeit verses may sound good, but only the truth of Scripture gives life. When we anchor our finances—and our faith—in what God has actually said, we discover joy, peace, and a deeper trust in Him. And no counterfeit could ever give us that.

This article was published in our Faithful Steward magazine, a quarterly publication filled with encouraging stories, biblical teaching, and practical tools to help you grow as a wise and joyful giver. If you'd like to begin receiving Faithful Steward, consider becoming a FaithFi partner.