You’ve said that before, haven’t you? Probably to a brother or sister. “Finders keepers, losers weepers.” Jerry Laliberte is a plumber in Florida. He was cleaning air ducts when he found $20,000 wrapped up in aluminum foil. He said he briefly thought about keeping the money but then alerted the homeowner. The woman often stashed cash in strange places around the house. So, you might want to check your air ducts.
Honesty when no one is looking – that’s integrity. That’s honesty. Relative to honesty, let me paraphrase Paul’s words in Colossians 3 but alter it relative to honesty: “Be honest in everything relative to those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work honestly, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (3:22-24).
I went to exchange some dollars into Romanian lei one time. The wife of the exchange office owner gave me the lei. I spent some before I arrived at the office and then counted the money. She had given me one million lei too much. That only equaled about $30 but to them, it would be a serious loss. When I returned it, the man was working and I explained what happened. From then on, he called me “The most honest American!” It made a big impression. I also counted my money before I left after that.
If our employer feels like he or she needs to constantly look over our shoulder, it might say something about him or her. They might be a micro-manager. But it also might say something about their opinion of us. They aren’t sure if we’re dependable. On the other hand, if our boss were to say something like, “I know I don’t have to look over your shoulder. I know if you have a job to do, you’ll get it done”, then our integrity is probably intact.
Wherever you are and whatever you do – don’t be honest when people are looking – being people pleasers. Work honestly for the Lord.
–Paul Holland