Daily Encouragement: Day 258

From Handbook to Wisdom, Day 258

THE VALUE OF INTEGRITY 

I will not accept a bribe,
for a bribe blinds those who see
and perverts the words of the righteous.
(Exodus 23:8)

I will not say when I am tempted,
“I am being tempted by God;”
for God cannot be tempted by evil,
nor does He tempt anyone.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away
and enticed by his own lust.
Then, after lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin;
and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
(James 1:13–15)

After his Sunday messages, the pastor of a church in London got on the trolley Monday morning to go back to his study downtown. He paid his fare, and the trolley driver gave him too much change.

The pastor sat down and fumbled the change and looked it over, then counted it several times. You know the rationalization, “It’s wonderful how God provides.” He realized he was tight that week and this was just about what he would need to break even, or to have at least enough for his lunch. He wrestled with himself all the way down that old trolley trail that led to his office. And finally he came to the stop, and he got up, couldn’t live with himself, walked up to the trolley driver, and said, “Here, you gave me too much change. You made a mistake.”

The driver said, “No, it was no mistake. You see, I was in your church last night when you spoke on honesty, and I thought I would put you to the test.”

Our character is evident in what we are and do when we think no one is looking. With people of integrity, there is a growing congruity between what they are and do on the inside and what they are and do on the outside.