My pal’s business was struggling, because the other suppliers were getting all the contracts. And if you don’t give the person signing off the order a cash backhander, chances are that order isn’t coming your way.

My friend refuses to do business like that. That’s why his business is struggling. But he perseveres and believes that the Lord will help him make plans to make his business succeed. He believes that the Lord will show him which doors to open and which he should rather leave closed. Even if the whole landscape around him is being built on dishonesty, he trusts that God will come through for him.

One easily becomes part of the stream. Your distressing financial situation so easily persuades you to do the same. Everybody does it. I don’t have a choice. If I want to survive in this muddled up world, I will have to have some money ready for the decision-makers. You justify it so easily and no longer see how wrong it is.

I wonder how you can ask God to help you and to bless you with an order or a new contract when behind the scenes you’re being deceitful. Rather do the right thing. Walking the clean road makes it easy for God to bless you.

^6-7… It’s important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God’s house, be looked up to … not money-hungry.

Obviously, this doesn’t only apply to the business world, but to everything in our lives. We have to be honest everywhere. What comes out of our mouths must always be a 100% honest. If people notice that you are not telling the truth, they won’t believe anything you say. In a way, you are labelling yourself: Don’t believe what I say, I’m a crook …

Always be honest in your conduct so that others can trust you fully. Be honest in your relationships. Do not allow other parties to climb over the fence. That’s a recipe for big trouble and pain.

Do the right thing. Always. Like the friend I told you about above. In this big struggle to remain afloat, he noticed after a few months that one of his major clients had paid a few million too much into his account.

He thought long and hard about what the right thing would be to do. Many said that he should keep it. They would never notice it and it was their mistake. Others even said it was the answer to his prayers.

It was very difficult, but my friend paid back the money. It was the right thing to do.

Let’s be honest in everything we do. Let’s make sure there are no grey areas anywhere in our lives. Let’s make it easy for God to bless us by always being honest and doing the right thing.

Scripture
Titus 1:5-9

Reflection
Where have you overstepped the boundaries of honesty?
What do you have to do differently?
Where in your life do you have to get rid of dishonesty?

Prayer
Father, I must confess there are a few places in my life where I’m not a 100% honest. I don’t want it to be like that. Please help me be honest in all respects. Please help me do the right thing. Always! I ask this in Jesus Name. Amen.