The Honest Advantage

Day Twenty-Six

The Honest Advantage? (Read Proverbs 11:1-2)

"In the final analysis, there is no other solution to man's progress but the day's honest work, the day's honest decision, the day's generous utterances, and the day's good deed." ~ Clare Boothe Luce

We live in a dog-eat-dog, face-paced, cutthroat business world, and it's tempting to view honesty as a mere luxury, and it's tempting to lower one's standards out of fear of not getting enough or that someone else might get more. The spiritual principle of rigorous honesty often gets sacrificed for personal gain. Yet, the author of Proverbs and Ms. Wisdom reminds us there is much at stake regarding personal integrity in business and at home. Honesty, intertwined with solid character, forms the very bedrock upon which trust is built – a cornerstone essential for any sustainable and ethical business and homestead.

Proverbs 1 and 2 reveal the vital connection between honesty and character, exploring how they impact business success, personal relationships, and, ultimately, the soul of an organization and homestead. Scripture reveals the promises of God when our lives are firmly immersed in a culture of honesty. God's Word consistently reminds us of the consequences of ethical lapses and argues that honesty is not merely a moral obligation but a spiritual imperative for any business or homestead aiming to survive and thrive. 

11 The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales,
    but he delights in accurate weights.

² Pride leads to disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom.

 "You must work hard, work smart, and work honestly, or you won't work here; please tell me you understand!" ~ Art Johnson

 These are the words spoken directly from a CEO when I was hired for my first corporate job. I took Mr. Johnson's wisdom seriously, and his words helped establish the ethics and standards I took to heart as I began my adult life in a world driven by power, greed, glory, prestige, and a win-at-all-cost culture. I haven't practiced them ideally, but neither have you nor anyone else. I have taken them seriously, and they've made a significant difference in how my life has turned out thus far.

 Verse 1 warns the disciples to practice rigorous honesty in business or experience God's wrath. God despises fraudulent activity in the world of commerce. On the contrary, God delights in fair practices and scales. In America, there is excess to go around, and yet there are people who are hungry, uneducated, and living in poverty. Someone is left behind when an entity or person moves to get ahead. For every so-called "winner," there is a loser. God doesn't despise capitalism but despises when people don't have enough food, water, shelter, and love. Not because any of us deserve it but because we need it to survive.

 Verse 2 shifts from honesty in business to honesty in character. When personified pride leads the procession, we are headed for all sorts of trouble. It leads to conflict between people, places, and things and invites some shady characters to join our operation. Pride brings personal ruin, public disgrace, separation, guilt, and shame and aims to bring down the host through collaboration. On the other hand, by practicing humility, wise people gain wisdom and learn to live contently with what God has provided. Pride represents fraud, and humility represents rigorous honesty. A person who thinks only of themselves has no qualms about short-changing Uncle Sam, stiffing John Q. Public to make a buck, or robbing Peter and writing a bad check to Paul.

 Pause momentarily and assess your life; how has pride, sloth, foolishness, and dishonesty played out in your career and at home? What has it cost you? More importantly, what has it cost others? What areas of your life do you need to die to SELF and start practicing rigorous honesty? It's never too late to humble yourself, clean up the wreckage of your past, and start working hard, smartly, and honestly in all your affairs. You'll be blessed, along with countless others, and most importantly, you'll honor God and make him proud.