Thursday 12th December 2024
‘You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount.’ Matthew 25:21 GWT
In his poem ‘The Road Not Taken’, Robert Frost writes, ‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.’ One of those roads less travelled is living with honesty and integrity in our day-to-day lives. Over the past few years, most New Zealand universities report an increase in low and high levels of academic misconduct and cheating, especially with the help of online sources. Our culture says, ‘If you want to get ahead, you have to break a few rules.’ But the Bible warns that ‘the little foxes…spoil the vines’ (Song of Songs 2:15 NKJV). Solomon is referring to little sins that whet our appetite, distort our values and lead to bigger sins. Bible commentator Matthew Henry writes, ‘Adam’s eating forbidden fruit seemed but a little sin, but it opened the door to the greatest.’
Are you tempted to compromise your character? To deceive someone? Pressured to be untruthful at work? Caught up in an ‘innocent little relationship’? Evangelist Charles Finney said, ‘A person who is dishonest in little things isn’t really honest in anything.’ Unless the small, secret areas of your life are governed by your convictions, you endanger them to corruption from your compromises.
A biblical promise is made to those faithful in small things: ‘Well done…you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things’ (Matthew 25:21 NKJV). Guard your thoughts; they become your deeds. Guard your deeds; they form your character. Guard your character; it decides your destiny.
Good morning