I was reading Christian
Single magazine and found an article written by a person named J.B.
which certainly causes one to think!
When it comes to
relationships, honesty is one of the character traits we most appreciate.
Almost all of us think of ourselves as trustworthy, and we are quick to be
offended when others are proved dishonest. While big lies might be easy to
spot, how truthful are we when it comes to the small things?
-
Keeping Promises:
Have you ever promised to keep a secret, make a date, or help someone
out and then failed to do exactly that? Sure, life gets in the way
sometimes, and everyone’s entitled to a change of mind. But if your
friends find themselves on the receiving end of a string of broken
promises, it can mean only one thing: You’re unreliable.
-
Shirking Work:
While most of us still find it hard to break a promise to a friend,
it’s much easier to take advantage of a big company. Have you ever
called in sick when the only thing making you ill is the daily
grind? Guess what: Your pants are on fire.
-
Pilfering Post-Itst:
An online survey by Reader’s Digest Canada found that 62 percent of
its readers copped to stealing office supplies. Maybe you’re just
pocketing small stuff like pens, paper, or envelopes to sock it to an
impersonal industry. But if taking something that’s not yours
isn’t dishonest, then what is?
-
Ignoring Checkout
Mistakes:
How do you react if you get undercharged at the supermarket or
restaurant? What do you do if the cashier gives you too much change?
Your response is more of a statement about your own trustworthiness
than their accuracy.
-
Committing
Victimless Crimes:
Do you run stop signs way out in the country when you’re sure not to
be seen? Do you edge over the speed limit on certain well-known roads?
Do you ever pocket income you have no plans of reporting to the IRS?
Don’t forget the classic definition of integrity: It’s who you are
when no one’s looking.
I am reminded of the
young shepherd boy, David, in the classic story of his battle with the giant
(1
Samuel 17). David approached King Saul and wanted to take on the one who
was trash-talking the armies of the living God. Any king would have been
concerned for such a young man to take on a huge warrior. But David’s
comeback was a sign of his character. He was confident. He said he killed
both the lion and the bear when they would come to steal his father’s
flock, and he would do the same for this giant (vss. 34-36).
This tells me that
David was a person of integrity; he had a responsibility to protect his
father’s animals. Who would have ever known if one or two went missing? He
risked his life when no one was looking! What kind of person are we when no
one is looking? Or for the parents reading this; what kind of person are you
when someone IS looking?
28
January 2008
