by Richelle Hecker

Choosing to live with integrity

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.”
Proverbs 11:1 New American Standard Bible

When I read this proverb I imagine ancient marketplaces where weights and measures were used for business. It was fairly easy for merchants to cheat patrons with uneven scales. It would have been important to find trustworthy people to be sure you received your money’s worth. God made it quite clear in His Law and in the Proverbs that He expected the Israelites to have a reputation of honesty.

It is tempting to only think about this proverb with an Old Testament mindset and forget that it has a modern application for us. We are God’s people and He expects us to have a reputation of trustworthiness as well. We are a reflection of Him. It has become so culturally acceptable to fudge a little here and there in business dealings that many of God’s people have begun to blend in. For example, many people prefer to deal in cash in order to avoid paying taxes. Indeed, when fully honest we are sometimes treated as strange. Running back into a grocery store to pay for an overlooked candy bar can get you rolling eyes and annoyed expressions rather than gratitude for your honesty.

Though large acts of dishonesty are frowned upon, some may wonder why we should bother with the little things. How much does it matter if you failed to report all of the tips you earned this year?

When I work out at the gym I take pictures of the weights I use for each exercise. This helps me remember where I left off the next time I lift because even adding small weights makes a major difference in how I feel after a workout. In the same way, everything we do and say as God’s people makes an impact. God has called us to live as people with integrity. What may seem like a small thing to us can have major repercussions. Doing the right thing glorifies God.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado