⁵We never used words to butter you up. No one knows that better than you. And God knows we never used words as a smoke screen to take advantage of you.

Why is it always so hard to say out loud what I believe and what I stand for, especially when some of my friends do not believe in the same things? Why am I afraid to say the Lord’s name when I meet with other businessmen in the boardrooms? Why am I afraid to show what I stand for among my colleagues or in social gatherings with my pals?

Maybe we’re afraid of people laughing at us or rejecting us – and we need them so much.  We change our story and abandon God right there in the Bible just to be accepted or to get the job.

People will respect you If you stand up for the right stuff. Then people will know what you’re made of, and strangely enough, they will want to associate with you. They will have respect for you and know that they can trust you with anything.

You don’t believe me? Try it.

Many times in my life I’ve been in situations where I hesitated to open my mouth when the wrong things were being said or decided. Then, when I eventually had the guts to say that the path the guys were taking didn’t seem right to me, it mostly met with huge criticism and caused an enormous dust storm.

But when the dust settled, many of the big indunas came to me to thank me for being prepared to stand up. They felt the same as I did, but did not want to be the first to speak up.

Friends, many people and organisations need for us as children of the living God to stand up. God wants to change many situations. God wants to bring relief in many places and maybe He wants to use you to start things off.

Do not by conforming with people and not standing up for what you stand for, deprive people of God’s goodness, of God’s great hand that simply wants to share goodness. The biggest bully, the worst boss, the most irritating colleague or friend actually longs for God’s grace and you may be obstructing the way by watering down everything and telling people what you think they want to hear. Do not do and say things to be acknowledged by people.

Be honest always. Be transparent. Do everything above board, because I believe dishonesty eventually and always comes to light. Not that this is the reason why we want to take the right path. On the contrary! We try to do the right things because God expects it from his children.

Under the table is where you find the men of darkness. and although it may look attractive in the beginning, I can guarantee that difficult times lie ahead. There are many bodies under the table. Don’t even try and go in that direction. If you are already there, get yourself out of there as soon as possible, because you are going to get hurt.

Make your money 100% honestly. You start believing the stories your mind tells you. And before you know it, you justify your actions that are a little bit off from what the right thing is to do. In the beginning it doesn’t really bother you, because you believe the story that you made up in your head. Watch out – don’t trip yourself up. This is a dangerous area.

God sees everything you do. If you had to call Him as witness, would both of you be satisfied with his witness about your actions?

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 2:1-5

Reflection

https://bible.com/97/1th.2:1-5.msg

Is it easy for you to talk about God?

Can people hear something about God in conversations with you?

What must you stop doing to get the “100% honest” sticker?

Prayer

Lord, please help me to be honest in everything. Help me to take the right path. Help me to help the people around me to take the right path. Amen.