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KNIGHTHOOD AND HONESTY
KNIGHTHOOD
AND HONESTY (7 of 11)
The salesman
tells me the purchase and installation of the water pump will cost about
$500.00. When the bill comes it’s
$650.00. The picture in the
advertisement of a “chili burger” and what I got at the restaurant bear
little resemblance. When I mention
it to the waitress, she informs me, “Sir, that’s just advertising.”
Tell, me, does
the following passage reflect the state of our society?
“The godly have been swept
from the land; not one upright man remains…Both hands are skilled in doing
evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate
what they desire-- they all conspire
together…[they] practice extortion
and commit robbery; they
oppress the poor
and
needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice.” (Mic. 7:2, 3; Ezek
22:29 – Selected) (See Jer. 5:1)
The biblical
concept of honesty involves fairness and straightforwardness of conduct.
It has to do with that which is good, excellent and honorable, emanating
from a noble heart. Perhaps the one
verse that best summarizes these qualities is Philippians 4:8: “…Whatever
is true (concealing nothing) whatever
is noble (venerable, honorable),
whatever is right (equitable, innocent, just), whatever is pure (innocent, clean, modest, chaste), whatever
is lovely (friendly, acceptable),
whatever is admirable (well spoken of, reputable) --if
anything is excellent (virtuous, excellent, valorous) or praiseworthy (commendable, laudatory)--think about such things.”
Honesty has to
do with:
- Maintaining a pure
heart: The
Psalmist asks, “Who may ascend the
hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?” And
then answers his own question: “He
who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an
idol or swear by what is false.” (Psa.
24:3,4)
- Practicing integrity:
God instructed King Solomon, "If
you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your
father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will
establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your
father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of
Israel.' But
if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and
decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them.”
(1 Kin. 9:4-6)
King David prayed:
“May integrity and
uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.”
And Job cried out, “…Till I die, I will not deny my integrity.”
(Psa. 25:21; Job 27:5b)
- Living a blameless
life: “The righteous man leads a
blameless life…We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have
exploited no one.” (Pro.
20:7; 2 Cor 7:2 – Selected) Consider God’s description of Job:
“There is no one on earth
like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.
And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to
ruin him without any reason." (Job 2:3)
(See Dan. 6:4,5; Rom 12:17; 2 Cor. 8:21; Psa. 16:1,11)
- Sustaining impeccable
business practices: Isaiah
asked the question: "Who of us
can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?” (i.e.
God) He then answers his own
question: “He who walks righteously
and speaks what is right, who
rejects gain from extortion and
keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of
murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil.” (Isa.
33:14-15) (See Pro. 11:1; 12:22)
- Living with a clear
conscience: “We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live
honorably in every way…I strive always to keep my conscience clear before
God and man.” (Heb 13:18;
Act. 24:16) (See Job 27:6)
PRAYER:
“Lord, grant me a heart that
hungers for purity, with the resolve to live with total integrity in terms of my
motives and actions. Amen.”
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