Saturday 1st December 2018 Prayer Devotion
Scripture Reading:- Proverbs 10:1-21
Topic:- Honesty Is The Best Policy
Text:- 2 Corinthians 8:21
Paul was captain of his School’s Quiz team and had led them to several victories.
On the Final leg of the National Junior Schools Quiz Competition, the last question that would have given the School another victory/shield was directed at Paul…”Spell Auditorium”.
It was obviously a “cheap” question for somebody of Paul’s intelligence, but he observed that the word “Auditorium” was pasted to the microphone before him.
Paul raised his hand and said, “Sorry sir, but the word is pasted on this microphone and it would be cheating If I answered it.”
So, he was given another question which he couldn’t answer correctly, and his School lost the competition!
Many watching live on TV said, “What a stupid boy. His type should never be involved in anything that has to do with clear thinking because he’s obviously a brain-washed and confused youth.”
His School mates almost lynched him for making them lose.
His parents however gave him a hero’s welcome back home:
1. Very proud that their son had put on display the Christian morals they had taught him, publicly, without counting the cost.
2. They had brought Paul up to believe that, as a Christian, the end does not always justify the means.
3. That there’s no small lie before God.
4. And that every lie, cheating or dishonesty displeases God and will not go unpunished.
5. The family’s favourite Psalm is Psalm 37, and it translates to mean that you shouldn’t join people in doing evil just because those who do so seem to get away with it.
Next day in School when the Principal called out the quiz team in the Assembly hall. It was boos and cursing for Paul by the Students.
Then the Principal spoke. “It’s a sad thing that we lost at the quiz, but I’m very proud that Paul is a Student of this School, and would want all of you to emulate him If you ever find yourself in same situation.
Winning the competition would have brought us honor, but for how long will people remember that?
What Paul did, however, will be a subject for discussion for a long time, and it will always bring glory to this School.”
A standing ovation for Paul, followed the Principal’s speech!
Two days later, one national dailies reporting the story on its front page with Paul’s picture, captioned it, “BEHOLD, THE HOPE OF OUR NATION!”
The Chairman of one of the biggest Banks in the country, an old Student of the School, read the story and came calling a week later with a fat Cheque and Scholarship for Paul. He also endowed an Annual Prize in his name for the Most Honest Student in the School.
The moral of this story is: HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. Proverbs 22:6 (NLT) says “Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.”
Every parent, in this decadent society of “Anything Goes”, needs to set the moral standard for their children by living right themselves.
When we do what is right, we gain the Lord’s approval, even if the whole world condemns us. Because there are times when the truth will cost us more than a lie, or even cost us our popularity or success.
John Fischer says that the value of a person is not measured on the applause meter, but in the heart and mind of God.
Never be afraid to stand for the truth, even when it looks like you’re standing alone. You can choose to be the hope of this present decadent society where morality and good conscience is gradually becoming extinct in business and governance.
Prayer Points:-
1. Oh Lord God, help me to be honest and faithful in all my ways henceforth, in the name of Jesus Christ.
2. I command lie to die completely in my life now by fire, in the name of Jesus Christ.
3. I refuse to be intimidated to do evil, help me oh Lord God to do good and stand by the truth always henceforth, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Happy New Month
