The Ministry Of Truth And Honesty

Introduction: If there’s one thing that’s sorely and surely needed these days, it’s truth and honesty. It’s no secret that both and each are in short supply. Just look at some of the so-called testimony which “witnesses” utter before either house of the U S Congress, for example. The concept if not philosophy of “finders keepers, losers weepers” has been around for ages!

Even so, it’s refreshing when we find people who still believe in practicing these concepts of being honest and being truthful. I had one such occasion not long ago!

Paul believed in keeping things honest, too. The verse below proves this:

Text: 2 Corinthians 8:21, KJV: 21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

Now, in the context, Paul is describing how the Corinthians had promised to gather funds in order to help suffering saints. He took pains to make sure all things were visible and transparent. He might well have remembered what had happened to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 when they lied about how much they were giving and died on the spot!

Of course there are any number of more or less recent examples of people practicing truth and honesty. I remember bits and pieces of one such example, which I had read years ago. The basis was that a woman who sold fruits (IIRC) told a visiting minister that something he said caused her to repent and practice honest dealings in her market. When he asked the lady, “what did I say that inspired you to do that?”, she replied, “I don’t recall the text or the sermon. But it was enough for me to take the false bottoms out of my baskets!”

Those of us who remember open-air apple markets and the like know that seldom if ever did anyone see the genuine bottom of a fruit basket except at honest markets. We can rejoice for that merchant who saw the light and decided to do right.

Here’s another I remember reading a good number of years ago (there may be variations on this story and I claim no originality): a minister got on a city bus but had no change for the bus fare. He gave the driver a dollar and the driver gave him some coins in return.

This particular minister had some things on his mind, as the story goes, and didn’t think much about the coins until he came closer to his destination! He counted the coins and realized the driver had given him too much! As he prepared to leave, the minister told the driver, “You gave me too much in change!” To which the driver replied, “I know it, sir. You see, I heard your sermon on honesty yesterday and wanted to know if you practiced what you preach!”

Of course I remember these and strive to practice honesty. The operative word is “strive” which means that doesn’t always happen (admit it, the same thing happens to all of us!). The other day, though, I had a very pleasant experience with one of the most honest and truthful people I’ve ever met.

This was at a thrift store, and I love stopping at these places as they’re one place where, sometimes, good bargains are found for various things. Also, some have incredible deals on books, including Christian material and even Bibles! This is one way we can be good, if not better, stewards of what our Lord gives us, no?

I found a few things and proceeded to the cashier’s stand. I gave her my debit card, she punched in some stuff, I pushed in my PIN, and promptly was distracted (at this store, you bag your own purchases). She said, “Sir, don’t forget your debit card!” And I replied, “Well, they couldn’t get much off of that card today!”

After we both shared a laugh, she told me about another customer who had left not only her bank card, but also her driver’s license, over the weekend! This cashier related how she had no idea how to contact that customer, but kept both in safekeeping, figuring the customer might call back on Monday (this store is closed on Sundays).

Sure enough, one of the first things on Monday morning was a call asking, “I know you probably don’t have them, but did I leave my driver’s license and bank card there on Friday?” The cashier explained, “I have them and didn’t let anything happen to either one of them.” Needless to say, the customer and cards were promptly reunited.

I thought for a moment, and said, first, “Thanks for being an honest person!” Then, another thought came to mind: “You can reach more people with this ‘ministry of truth and honesty’ than I ever could with a dozen sermons from the pulpit.”

Real truth and honesty are so rare these days, but it’s great when it’s experienced. I hope all of us strive to be truthful and hones, just like Paul, and even this thrift-shop cashier!

Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV)