In his book, Growing Deep in the Christian Life, Chuck Swindoll tells of a man who bought some fried chicken dinners for himself and his date, late one afternoon. The attendant at the fast food joint inadvertently gave the customer a bucket of the day’s cash. After the couple drove to their picnic site, the man discovered the mistake and immediately drove all the way back to the restaurant. The manager, as you can imagine, was relieved and impressed with the man’s honesty. “Let me call the newspaper. We need to take your picture and write this up”, the manager said. “You’re one of the most honest men I’ve ever met”. The customer sheepishly replied, “Oh, no. No, don’t do that. The woman I am with is married to somebody else.”
One can be honest and still not have integrity.
King David said, in 1 Chronicles 29:17(NIV):
I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
We are being watched. I told some of our leaders, in a training session last week, that we must live in such a way as to give those who are watching us, a good show.
Let us go forth with honesty…and integrity!
Richard Allen Farmer