One of the frequent warnings that the New Testament carries is about “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15). These are people who look religious and pious on the outside, but who are the opposite on the inside. Don Marquis once wrote, “A Pharisee is a man who prays publicly and preys privately.” There is a certain amount of trust that we will always need to show to our fellow man. In most cases, that trust is not lost or broken. By and large, people are honest.
Some are not. Some are ravenous wolves on the inside looking for what gain they may have (Proverbs 6:1-4). Life teaches us to have our wits about us in transactions and dealings with one another. It is common sense not to put ourselves in a vulnerable position. That cannot always be avoided, but with care, those times can be minimized. The Bible encourages us to get out of situations in which we are vulnerable even if the other person is a friend (Proverbs 6:1-4).