Is Honesty a Rarity?
Not long ago I made a stop at our local hardware store. After finding the items I needed, I walked toward the checkout counter to pay for them. The woman working the register had just walked away and her manager was taking her place. While we engaged in pleasantries he took a bag from the counter and placed my items inside, along with the receipt.
At home, I opened the bag to find my items and their receipt along with several smaller items and their receipt. The bag might have been left on the counter by a previous customer or it may have been a mistake due to the change in register operators. Regardless of why, I was now in possession of items that did not belong to me.
The receipt in question showed the items to be valued at a little over $2. Depending on where you live and your economic situation that may or may not be a lot of money. Luke 16:10 came to mind.
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
If God is to find us trustworthy, we have to prove it to him through the small things in life. A few days later I returned to the hardware store with the bag of items and the receipt. The manager and a young lady, apparently in training, were behind the counter. I explained the situation and placed the bag on the counter.
The manager thanked me for my honesty. As we continued to discuss how the items came into my possession he thanked me numerous times. As I was leaving the store, the young lady called out behind me, “Not many people would have bothered bringing this back, thank you for your honesty.”
We live in a world where honesty is a character trait that is not readily found, and obviously can catch people by surprise. While I did what was expected of me by God, it is apparent that I was seen as going above and beyond what is considered to be normal.
In Matthew 5:14 we are told that the people of God are the light of the world. Our actions may not always be the norm, but when our light shines through our actions, the world does see it. We offer a glimpse of His way of life and like a lighthouse we can point the way to a better path. When we are faithful in even the small things, it does not go unnoticed.
Be faithful in the little things, and let your light shine.
You may find the following links to be helpful in your study of what it means to be a faithful Christian and a light to those around you.
