June 20
Truth is truth is truth
For reading & meditation: Proverbs 30:1-9
“Keep falsehood and lies far from me ‘” (v.8)
In today’s world integrity is in short supply. I asked a successful businessman: “What would you say is the greatest need in your field of business?” He thought for a moment, looked me straight in the eye and said, “Integrity.” I asked him why, and he said, “Almost daily I am faced with dishonesty and duplicity and whenever I confront it people take the view that dishonesty is only a problem when it is found out.” It’s interesting, however, that those who laugh at dishonesty get deeply upset when they are victims of it. I caught sight of this statement in one of my grandson’s books: “An honest fisherman is a pretty uninteresting person.” Another statement said, “There are two things essential if you are to succeed in business – integrity and sagacity. Integrity is keeping your word and sagacity is never giving your word.” Is it any wonder that our young people find situational ethics so appealing? It is only fair to say, though, that despite the present-day trend away from honesty and integrity, there are still millions of people who would not claim to be Christians but nevertheless see it as their task to be honest, upright and decent. May their tribe increase! Christians who lack integrity hinder the progress of the gospel in this world and set the Christian message in a false light. Determine to be honest in thought and speech and act. Lay this down as a cornerstone of your life, especially you who are young, and begin building from there. Whatever you do, shun like a plague the teachings of the situational ethics people and admit no exceptions. Truth is truth is truth.
Prayer:
O God, You who are the Designer of the Great Design, help me to fit into it, mold my life by it and be fully surrendered to its purposes. If I run from truth, I run from myself, for I am made for truth. Keep me true, dear Lord. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
For further study:
1. What indictment was laid against the priests?
2. What are we to put off?
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