SEARCHLIGHT
Are you truthful and trustworthy?
SCRIPTURE
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. James 4:17 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
Let me paint you a picture. It happened to me while I was ministering in Greece. Unknowingly, while I was riding an Athens train, I dropped my sunglasses. Two men saw the sunglasses on the train floor near my feet. That is the picture.
What would you do? Would you pick up the sunglasses and keep them? Finders keepers, losers weepers. Many people like to believe that whoever finds something gets to keep it and the owner has no claim to it. On the other hand, would you pick them up, look around, and ask if anybody had lost them?
Suppose you found $1000 in a paper bag on a park bench? Imagine finding an expensive ring or watch on a sink in a public restroom. When I was in an airport restroom, I mistakenly took off my ring and placed it on the counter to wash my hands. I walked out and immediately remembered the ring. So, I walked back in only to find that the ring had been taken, in just a few seconds.
Let me paint the rest of the picture for you while I was on the Athens train. Man #1 saw the glasses on the train floor, picked them up, did not bother to ask or gesture to see if anyone had lost them and kept them for himself. Man #2 saw the same glasses and saw Man #1 do what he did.
When I became aware that I had lost my sunglasses, I began looking for them. Man #2 noticed that I was looking for something. He asked me if I had lost my sunglasses. When I said yes, Man #2 nudged Man #1 to return the glasses to me, their rightful owner. Embarrassed, Man #1 did not look at me but gave them back. There was no eye contact. Only after being confronted and prodded, did Man #1 do the right thing. Certainly, he was not truthful or trustworthy.
Here is 1 PICTURE, 2 PEOPLE, and 2 PERSPECTIVES. Man #1 wanted the glasses for himself. Man #2 wanted the glasses in the owner’s hands. Man #1 did nothing to show concern or honesty. Man #2 confronted Man #1 without having anything to materially gain. Certainly Man #2 was truthful and trustworthy.
Here is 1 PICTURE, 2 PEOPLE, 2 PERSPECTIVES, and 1 PRINCIPLE. God has 1 perspective on this picture. Today’s Scripture focus says, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” Galatians 6:9,10 state “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Colossians 3:17 states “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Do what is right rather than what you want to do. Your feelings tell you that it is yours because you found it. What is right is to try to find the rightful owner. But your feelings tell you that you don’t have the time, or it would be embarrassing. Doing what is right may not be easy or convenient.
Man #1 rationalized. Man #2 desired truthfulness. Man #1 ignored the right solution. Man #2 decided to get involved even though it would not bring him gain. Man #1 would not make a good friend. Man #2 was trustworthy. What a great person! Dr. Martin Luther King said, “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right.”
SOMETHING TO DO
What would you do? 1 PICTURE, 2 PEOPLE, 2 PERSPECTIVES, 1 PRINCIPLE What type of person are you? Are you trustworthy? Would you make a good friend? What about just being a Godly, truthful person? What would Jesus do? When you need to do the right thing, don’t think twice. Just do it! Read Ephesians 4:25; 1 Corinthians 13:6; 1 Timothy 3:11; and Luke 19:7.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me not to rationalize or ignore the right solution. Make me truthful and trustworthy in everything I say and do. AMEN