Working in the customer service industry has taught me a lot about people, and more importantly, a lot about myself. Deeply ingrained in each one of us is this bent towards sin, this inclination to do wrong to get even slightly ahead. I see it every single day, and often multiple times a day. People cheat the system because they know that they can get away with it. And maybe they do get away with it…for now. The cashier that rings up their transaction isn’t aware of the fact that they’ve manipulated the situation to get what they want at a cheaper price, and their “minor” dishonesty that saves them a mere .50¢ costs them their integrity. In those moments when we want our way and desire to get just a bit ahead, even if it requires us to be dishonest, we think we’ve won but fail to remember that God sees all.
Have you ever been handed more change than you were due after a transaction at the store? After loading your groceries into your car, have you ever noticed that there were items that were missed by the cashier that you never paid for? What did you do in that moment? Inconvenience yourself by going back inside and paying for it? Did you give the extra change back? Of course, there are many times when we make honest mistakes, unintentionally doing the wrong. The problem is when we know what we’re doing and still choose to do it anyway, or perhaps we become aware of it later and fail to go and make it right…and these “little” seemingly insignificant choices that we make cost us our integrity. I heard it said very well once:
“Integrity takes a lifetime to build and a moment to destroy.”
The consequences of some choices are certainly greater than others, but the point is that nothing is done in secret. God sees all, and make no mistake – we cannot deceive Him. He sees the times when we cheat and steal to get ahead. When we take what isn’t ours to take. When we manipulate the circumstances to get our way. And every time we do, we sacrifice our integrity. Is it really worth it? Is the extra dollar or the extra five minutes worth it? No, it’s not. Stop believing the lie. We are a sum of the choices that we make. Even though you might think that no one will ever know or that it’s not a big deal, you never know who’s watching you. You never know who is looking to you and your example to determine whether this whole “Christianity thing” is genuine or not. You might be the only Jesus that one person will ever see. Don’t forfeit that opportunity for .50¢.
Word sister!