Monday's Blessing
Song of Songs 2:15
"Quick! Catch all the little foxes before they ruin the vineyard of your love, for the grapevines are all in blossom."
People are always watching other people. In fact, it seems to be one of America's favorite pastimes- people watching. Just watch anyone on a park bench, and you'll notice they are observing others routinely. They are watching how you dress, how you take care of yourself, and how you treat other people. These same people are watching you at play or at work. They are innately trying to determine whether your words and your walk - your lifestyle - are consistent. What do they see? Are you a good representative of God's word? Are you striving for excellence? Or are you compromising in so-called insignificant areas?
Let's keep in mind God wants people of integrity, people of honor, people who are trustworthy. A person of integrity is open and honest. He doesn't have to hide his agendas or offer ulterior motives. A person of integrity is true to his word. He keeps his commitments. He doesn't need some legal binding contract to force him to fulfill his promises. People of integrity are the same in private as they are in public. They don't portray a humble face at work and then go home and extort their families. With integrity you do what's right whether someone is watching you or not.
Every day our integrity is tested. If the girl at the cash register gives you too much money, do you hand it back and say, "I think you made a mistake." Or, do you go out thinking to yourself, "Good, Lord Jesus, you just blessed me again!"
Do you call in sick to work just to stay home and take care of personal business? Maybe take a trot to the beach? Or, go play golf thinking you earned it?
What about when the phone rings? Do you tell your child, "Tell them I'm not home." Are you teaching your child to lie?
I know you're thinking, "But those are white lies! You're being ridiculous!" I'm sorry to say that lies are not color coded in the Bible. In God's sight there are no white, gray, or black lies. A lie is a lie. If yo're not telling the truth, that's being dishonest. And let me tell you, it will catch up to you sooner or later. Remember you reap what you sow.
Also keep in mind if you lie about little things, bigger things become an easier target. In the news there are always entrepreneurs who bring huge companies down with embezzlement. Do you think they began by siphoning millions of dollars? Of course not! It began with a few hundred here and there that no one noticed. Before you know it there were millions of funds being relocated. Don't kid yourself, if you will compromise something small, eventually you will compromise something larger should the right situation arise.
If you don't have complete integrity, you will never reach your highest potential. Integrity is the foundation on which a truly successful life is built. Every time you compromise, every time you are less than honest; you are initiating small cracks in your foundation. These little cracks prohibit God from building a solid future with you.
The Bible says if we will be faithful in little things, then God will trust us with more (Matthew 25:21). How can God trust me to do the right thing with millions of dollars, if I won't do the right thing with a hundred dollars? I'm sure you heard of these fly-by-night cases in which someone's ones future was thwarted because of his mismanagement of money or something else insignificant.
This week and weeks forward make a commitment to be open and honest and tell the whole truth. Learn to listen to your conscience. God put that inside you so you would have an inner rule by which to know right from wrong. When you start to compromise, you will hear that alarm go off in your conscience. Don't ignore it. Do what you know in your heart is the right thing.
Song of Songs 2:15
"Quick! Catch all the little foxes before they ruin the vineyard of your love, for the grapevines are all in blossom."
People are always watching other people. In fact, it seems to be one of America's favorite pastimes- people watching. Just watch anyone on a park bench, and you'll notice they are observing others routinely. They are watching how you dress, how you take care of yourself, and how you treat other people. These same people are watching you at play or at work. They are innately trying to determine whether your words and your walk - your lifestyle - are consistent. What do they see? Are you a good representative of God's word? Are you striving for excellence? Or are you compromising in so-called insignificant areas?
Let's keep in mind God wants people of integrity, people of honor, people who are trustworthy. A person of integrity is open and honest. He doesn't have to hide his agendas or offer ulterior motives. A person of integrity is true to his word. He keeps his commitments. He doesn't need some legal binding contract to force him to fulfill his promises. People of integrity are the same in private as they are in public. They don't portray a humble face at work and then go home and extort their families. With integrity you do what's right whether someone is watching you or not.
Every day our integrity is tested. If the girl at the cash register gives you too much money, do you hand it back and say, "I think you made a mistake." Or, do you go out thinking to yourself, "Good, Lord Jesus, you just blessed me again!"
Do you call in sick to work just to stay home and take care of personal business? Maybe take a trot to the beach? Or, go play golf thinking you earned it?
What about when the phone rings? Do you tell your child, "Tell them I'm not home." Are you teaching your child to lie?
I know you're thinking, "But those are white lies! You're being ridiculous!" I'm sorry to say that lies are not color coded in the Bible. In God's sight there are no white, gray, or black lies. A lie is a lie. If yo're not telling the truth, that's being dishonest. And let me tell you, it will catch up to you sooner or later. Remember you reap what you sow.
Also keep in mind if you lie about little things, bigger things become an easier target. In the news there are always entrepreneurs who bring huge companies down with embezzlement. Do you think they began by siphoning millions of dollars? Of course not! It began with a few hundred here and there that no one noticed. Before you know it there were millions of funds being relocated. Don't kid yourself, if you will compromise something small, eventually you will compromise something larger should the right situation arise.
If you don't have complete integrity, you will never reach your highest potential. Integrity is the foundation on which a truly successful life is built. Every time you compromise, every time you are less than honest; you are initiating small cracks in your foundation. These little cracks prohibit God from building a solid future with you.
The Bible says if we will be faithful in little things, then God will trust us with more (Matthew 25:21). How can God trust me to do the right thing with millions of dollars, if I won't do the right thing with a hundred dollars? I'm sure you heard of these fly-by-night cases in which someone's ones future was thwarted because of his mismanagement of money or something else insignificant.
This week and weeks forward make a commitment to be open and honest and tell the whole truth. Learn to listen to your conscience. God put that inside you so you would have an inner rule by which to know right from wrong. When you start to compromise, you will hear that alarm go off in your conscience. Don't ignore it. Do what you know in your heart is the right thing.
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