I remember as a child going to the orchards in southwestern Michigan to pick apples and berries. Our family might drive up on weekend mornings and make a whole day out of exploring nature and picking the fresh fruit. On some trips when we arrived the owners might be gone or about ready to leave and they would set bushel barrels out for us to fill. When we finished our harvesting and were ready to check out we simply packed the fruit into paper sacks, left the money in a tin box on the table and left. It was a time when people trusted their neighbor and their regular customers.
We live in a time now when honesty is such a rarity it is hard to trust many to give a ‘square’ deal of getting what you pay for, not to mention to be honest about money exchange. In the scripture we are reminded that the men in question had such a reputation for being upright and honest that when work was done those responsible for contracting the work knew that these men in particular could be trusted.
We need to live our lives and be upfront, upright and just in our dealings with everyone so that we too have a reputation to be trusted. We all fall short of doing the right thing all the time; so I know it is only the working of the Holy Spirit within us that allows us to walk humbly before our God.
Seek to be the best representative of God’s goodness by telling the truth, dealing with people in an open and friendly manner and not scheming to have your own interest always be the first thing that you consider. With these parameters Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves and that includes being honest and standing by our word.
Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day. Don’t’ be distracted; stay on your purpose! Have an awesome weekend and enjoy a spirited worship service with your church family. Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn
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