My father told me a story when I was growing up that teaches a lot about integrity, honor, and doing the right thing.
I am adapting it to be more appropriate and to fit this short article. A man (we’ll say Bob) was asked by another person (we’ll call him Jim) to do something that he knew was the wrong thing to do. Rightly so, he refused. As he was asked several times and given incentives of money to do this thing he continued to refuse as he knew he should. Eventually a very large sum of money was offered, and Bob finally gave in and agreed to do it.
Once he agreed to do it and as he was going off to actually do this thing, he called back to confirm the price with this person, but Jim replied with a fraction of the price he had agreed to. Indignant at the low price, Bob exclaimed “just what kind of man do think I am!” to which Jim replied, “we already established the type of man you are, now we’re just haggling over price.” He should have done what he knew was right and never compromised for any amount of money or other incentive offered.
I was taught, and tried to teach my children, “Do the right thing right away without debate.” In the vast majority of cases, we know the right thing to do right then, but we start to debate, rationalize, trivialize, etc. until we talk ourselves into doing what we already knew was wrong. Do the right thing right away without debate!
We don’t know when our actions may become an example to others. Someone somewhere is always watching. You could lead others astray! Live each day to honor Jesus and make sure your behavior imitates His righteous life (Gal. 2:20; 1 John 2:5-6, I Cor. 11:1), no matter who you think may or may not be watching.
Uprightness, integrity, and honor should be goals for all Christians young and old. Paul told Timothy:
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV).
Christians should change the world around us for good while never compromising ourselves, being Christ-like, and keeping ourselves unspotted by the world (Acts 10:38, James 1:27).
Gary Woodall