April 17 Honesty, Taught Under Pressure Proverbs 10:9
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” (Proverbs 10:9)
Many years ago, I had a way of making money and I was dedicated to the task. I would walk along Highway 111, with my wagon in tow, and I would pick up drink bottles that were scattered along the roadside. This is not a story about littering, although I was most excited about it, at that time of my life! I would gather a wagon full of bottles and I would immediately head for Mr. Price’s store, to redeem the bottles for cash! This particular day, I was in line to redeem the bottles, behind a boy that I looked up to and thought that he didn’t even know me. You know the type! He was older and he hung out with the “IN” group, and he was the idol of every underclassman. Well, it just so happened that he called me by name. He said, “Hey Glen, I see you have the same job as me.” We chatted a bit while Mr. Price was counting bottles. We went inside of the store to receive our “wages” for our days’ work. Skip and I were over near the candy shelf, and he said something that created some extreme mental difficulty for me. He suggested that we steal some candy. He said that he would create a distraction and I could take some candy. Boy oh boy was I feeling pressure to “Fit-in.” Here it is, I have an opportunity to impress this boy and I might even make it into the “Cool” crowd. Struggling with this dilemma, I gave in to the pressure and slipped a pack of chewing gum that looked like chewing tobacco. I thanked Mr. Price for taking the bottles and I quickly made an exit. We were outside of the store and Skip said, “I didn’t think you had it in you!” Oh well, I did it and now I was feeling that the results of my actions were not worth the guilt and regret that I experienced. “Skip, good to see you. I need to go home and do my chores. See you around…” The walk home afforded me the opportunity to talk with my wagon and to prepare for the face to face with my mother. Keep in mind, Mama had no clue about my activities. Arriving home, I immediately went about, doing my daily chores. Well, I should have known! Mama said, “What’s going on?” “What do you mean?” “Something is going on…what have you done?” What I had feared was here…I began to “sing” like a canary. Mama was calm and she said for me to get in the car, and we were going back up to the store and we were going to settle this issue. We were one mile from the store, however, that ride seemed like it was 50 miles. We entered the store and Mama told Mr. Price that I wanted to share something with him. So, I told him the entire sorted story and I apologized for my actions and placed the money for the gum on the counter. His response was not expected…He said, “Glen, I know that you took the gum! I keep my eyes on that boy Skip. He and his buddies steal something every time they come in.” Immediately, I DID NOT WANT to be a part of their crowd. I thought that confession and payment would settle the issue. I was wrong! Mr. Price told me that it was ok, and that the payment was enough, but Miss Barbara, oh Miss Barbara, had other ideas. She asked Mr. Price if he had any odd jobs that I could do to compensate him for my dishonesty and lack of integrity. So, for 2 months, I went to the store, and I organized the stock room and had to separate the returned bottles, by brand and I was required to sweep and dust and to do anything that was required and needed. Mama was not finished…I had to quote this specific Bible verse, from Proverbs 22:1, every single day… “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” I am so grateful for my mother’s influence and her intensity in teaching a valuable “Life’s Lesson!” Folks, we must be careful following the “In Crowd,” seeking approval from this world and its sinful ways. How are we, as representatives of Jesus Christ, to live our lives? Simply put… “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8… Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!!!!! (Re-Posting)