March 22 ~ Proverbs 19:1
Better to be poor and honest than a rich person no one can trust.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Suppose someone offered you a million dollars, and all you had to do in return was deliver a package for them. You didn’t know what was in the package, and you didn’t ask. But you were pretty sure that what was happening was illegal… or at best, shady in some way. Would you do it? Now suppose your boss told you, “If you don’t lie for me about XYZ, you’re fired.” What would you do? After all, you have a family counting on your income… you have bills to pay…and all that you’re being asked to do is issue one simple, false statement or perform a single dishonest act. Maybe you’re being asked to say you saw a vehicular accident happen in a certain way – to place the blame on another driver. Or perhaps you are being asked to provide an alibi… “He was with me the whole time.” What could it hurt?
What if you could cheat on a test and score high enough for a scholarship… or you could shift one number and pocket some extra dollars that no one else would ever miss? If being honest about something meant you might actually suffer some sort of material loss… would you tell the truth? Let’s say you know there is something shifty going on with your friends or family members… or in the business in which you work… and reporting this could get a lot of people in trouble and/or cost you friendships and your job. How would you react? Suppose you were encouraged to pass off shoddy work… to cut corners in order to increase profits or speed up production. Could you keep quiet?
Let’s face it… life is not totally “black and white.” But too many of us are more concerned with “What’s in it for me?” than doing the right thing. Do you really want to work for a dishonest boss? Do you truly value friends who lie, cheat and steal? Are you doing family members a favor by keeping their secrets and allowing harm to come to them – and others? How would you feel if you were treated this way? Are you totally honest in all things? Are you willing to compromise your principles for personal gain? Are you more worried about how these things will affect you than in operating with integrity?
Being completely honest often requires a leap of faith and a heavy dose of courage. God will supply you with both. You may not always be the most popular person in some circles… or the wealthiest in terms of money and “stuff.” But you will be rich beyond measure in the things that truly matter… the blessings of God and His favor. Does this mean that all “rich” people are dishonest? Absolutely not! But in our culture, we have become so jaded by material wealth and “things,” that many of us often gauge our credibility and success in terms money and possessions instead of how well we love and serve others… and God.
Take a good hard look at your life and see where you have lost focus. Figure out what really matters to you and see where you have been willing to compromise your values in favor of a quick fix or something that seems to have value…but might actually be rather hollow. Fix your attention on God and the things that matter to Him. Make these the center of your life, and allow Him to determine your course. Let God show you how to do great things with less “stuff” and more integrity. Learn to value the things that He prizes. You may find that you are richer than you ever dreamed possible… in ways that truly matter.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label stealing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stealing. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for March 21, 2013
Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Believe it or not, there is an organization called the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention. According to information found at www.shoplifters.org, approximately 1 in 11 persons in our country today is a shoplifter. The reasons for shoplifting are varied, but many do not need the items and/or can afford to purchase them outright. These people get a “lift” from getting “something for nothing.” This “high” is more important to the shoplifter than the merchandise being stolen. Others steal to make up for a “loss” in their life…illness, job loss, the death of someone significant in their lives, a relationship breakup or dissolution, and more. Shoplifting may often make the person feel temporarily more in control.
Still others shoplift to relieve tension, anxiety, sadness or boredom, while others consider shoplifting a justifiable compensation for something lacking in their lives… payback for all they have given to others, how they feel they have been mistreated, or a specific experience. While many shoplifters fully expect to get caught at some point, they are often appalled to be placed in jail with “hardened criminals” for such a “petty crime.”
I used shoplifting as an example of dishonesty, but there are parallels for many areas of our life. You may be patting yourself on the back and saying, “Thank goodness this isn’t me!” But I ask you to take a good hard look at yourself. Are there other areas where you “shoplift?” Do you engage in other dishonest or deceptive behaviors in order to temporarily give yourself a “lift” or to compensate for some wrong you feel has been done against you? Do you embellish the truth to make yourself look better to others? Do you brag about how fast you drove to XYZ and didn’t get caught? Do you participate in illegal activities like underage drinking… or drug abuse? Do you cheat on your taxes… or even take extra condiments from the fast-food place “because they are ‘free’?”
Do you put on a good front in public to make everyone think that your life is hunky-dory, then conduct yourself in a totally different manner at home in front of your family and close friends? Do you pretty well thumb your nose at the world because some things have happened in your life and you feel entitled to do so? Are you one of those people who fumbles in his/her pocket for money when it comes time to pay the bill - then lets someone else pay… or “borrows” from others and never gives the items back…or pretends to be busy and lets someone else do all the work – then shares in the credit? Have you become comfortable with gossip, “white lies” and other “harmless petty crimes?"
There are countless ways in which we are all capable of dishonesty, if we are not careful and on constant guard. The adage that you can “give him enough rope and he’ll hang himself” often applies and our sins are discovered… and we have to “come clean” – at least temporarily. But it really shouldn’t matter whether we are ever caught in a lie or not. GOD knows! He sees how incorrigible we often are, and this breaks His heart. There really is no excuse… not the circumstances of our life, our childhood or upbringing, or our “innocence.” We all must strive to operate with more integrity if we want to be like Jesus.
Stop what you are doing today and talk to God. Tell Him that you know there may be areas of your life where even YOU are not aware that you are dishonest or lack integrity. Ask God to shine a bright light on your heart and reveal the places where you need to improve. Don’t risk even the slightest opportunity for ruin. Humbly call upon God to help you with this… and make every effort to stay on track and operate with honesty and integrity - in all things… and at all times.
©2013 Debbie Robus
The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Believe it or not, there is an organization called the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention. According to information found at www.shoplifters.org, approximately 1 in 11 persons in our country today is a shoplifter. The reasons for shoplifting are varied, but many do not need the items and/or can afford to purchase them outright. These people get a “lift” from getting “something for nothing.” This “high” is more important to the shoplifter than the merchandise being stolen. Others steal to make up for a “loss” in their life…illness, job loss, the death of someone significant in their lives, a relationship breakup or dissolution, and more. Shoplifting may often make the person feel temporarily more in control.
Still others shoplift to relieve tension, anxiety, sadness or boredom, while others consider shoplifting a justifiable compensation for something lacking in their lives… payback for all they have given to others, how they feel they have been mistreated, or a specific experience. While many shoplifters fully expect to get caught at some point, they are often appalled to be placed in jail with “hardened criminals” for such a “petty crime.”
I used shoplifting as an example of dishonesty, but there are parallels for many areas of our life. You may be patting yourself on the back and saying, “Thank goodness this isn’t me!” But I ask you to take a good hard look at yourself. Are there other areas where you “shoplift?” Do you engage in other dishonest or deceptive behaviors in order to temporarily give yourself a “lift” or to compensate for some wrong you feel has been done against you? Do you embellish the truth to make yourself look better to others? Do you brag about how fast you drove to XYZ and didn’t get caught? Do you participate in illegal activities like underage drinking… or drug abuse? Do you cheat on your taxes… or even take extra condiments from the fast-food place “because they are ‘free’?”
Do you put on a good front in public to make everyone think that your life is hunky-dory, then conduct yourself in a totally different manner at home in front of your family and close friends? Do you pretty well thumb your nose at the world because some things have happened in your life and you feel entitled to do so? Are you one of those people who fumbles in his/her pocket for money when it comes time to pay the bill - then lets someone else pay… or “borrows” from others and never gives the items back…or pretends to be busy and lets someone else do all the work – then shares in the credit? Have you become comfortable with gossip, “white lies” and other “harmless petty crimes?"
There are countless ways in which we are all capable of dishonesty, if we are not careful and on constant guard. The adage that you can “give him enough rope and he’ll hang himself” often applies and our sins are discovered… and we have to “come clean” – at least temporarily. But it really shouldn’t matter whether we are ever caught in a lie or not. GOD knows! He sees how incorrigible we often are, and this breaks His heart. There really is no excuse… not the circumstances of our life, our childhood or upbringing, or our “innocence.” We all must strive to operate with more integrity if we want to be like Jesus.
Stop what you are doing today and talk to God. Tell Him that you know there may be areas of your life where even YOU are not aware that you are dishonest or lack integrity. Ask God to shine a bright light on your heart and reveal the places where you need to improve. Don’t risk even the slightest opportunity for ruin. Humbly call upon God to help you with this… and make every effort to stay on track and operate with honesty and integrity - in all things… and at all times.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 20, 2012
Ephesians 4:26-28
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry - but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My daily calendar quote for yesterday was, “The man who can’t dance thinks the band is no good.” I think this probably describes a good number of people who are not taking ownership for their problems or responsibilities. It’s someone else’s fault… or another person’s problem… but certainly no fault of their own. In a way, this is the same thing as stealing. If we allow others to accept responsibility for our problems… debts… mistakes… or even unhappiness, we are making ends meet at their expense.
So when you “borrow” from your friends – a place to stay, food, clothing, money – with no agreement or plan for restitution… you are stealing from them. If the friends allow this, you are letting them to own your problems instead of taking responsibility for them yourself. When you say or do something you shouldn’t and try to pawn it off on another person – or make excuses – you have pretty much stolen that person’s integrity, as in the case of the man who can’t dance. It’s really not the band’s fault… but he doesn’t want to be honest and admit that he has shortcomings. He would rather allow the band to own the deficiencies.
The daily quote for today was, “When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt!” I think this is timely advice. When you are doing what God has called you to do… acting responsibly – even if it means admitting mistakes and making an effort to correct them… keep going. Don’t stop! Don’t get bogged down by anger, frustration, embarrassment, disappointment, or discouragement. Trust God to help you come out on top!
Pastor Joel Osteen paraphrases Philippians 4:13 in this manner… “It's not how you start that counts, it's how you finish. Shake off the past and keep running toward the prize!” Today is the day to stand up and accept responsibility for where we are in life… to do an honest day’s work in all arenas… and to move forward. There is no time for getting angry about the past… no room for the devil to get any pleasure in this! Let’s push on – with God’s help. Let’s ask God to show us how to quit focusing on the band and improve our “dancing!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry - but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My daily calendar quote for yesterday was, “The man who can’t dance thinks the band is no good.” I think this probably describes a good number of people who are not taking ownership for their problems or responsibilities. It’s someone else’s fault… or another person’s problem… but certainly no fault of their own. In a way, this is the same thing as stealing. If we allow others to accept responsibility for our problems… debts… mistakes… or even unhappiness, we are making ends meet at their expense.
So when you “borrow” from your friends – a place to stay, food, clothing, money – with no agreement or plan for restitution… you are stealing from them. If the friends allow this, you are letting them to own your problems instead of taking responsibility for them yourself. When you say or do something you shouldn’t and try to pawn it off on another person – or make excuses – you have pretty much stolen that person’s integrity, as in the case of the man who can’t dance. It’s really not the band’s fault… but he doesn’t want to be honest and admit that he has shortcomings. He would rather allow the band to own the deficiencies.
The daily quote for today was, “When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt!” I think this is timely advice. When you are doing what God has called you to do… acting responsibly – even if it means admitting mistakes and making an effort to correct them… keep going. Don’t stop! Don’t get bogged down by anger, frustration, embarrassment, disappointment, or discouragement. Trust God to help you come out on top!
Pastor Joel Osteen paraphrases Philippians 4:13 in this manner… “It's not how you start that counts, it's how you finish. Shake off the past and keep running toward the prize!” Today is the day to stand up and accept responsibility for where we are in life… to do an honest day’s work in all arenas… and to move forward. There is no time for getting angry about the past… no room for the devil to get any pleasure in this! Let’s push on – with God’s help. Let’s ask God to show us how to quit focusing on the band and improve our “dancing!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
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