The Radiance of Integrity

No one needs to point out that the sun is in the sky. Although we know that it is shining, it is so dependable that we often don’t notice it. But if the sun stoped shining we would notice it. We don’t need to point out our honesty. It may not be noticed all the time but if we stop being honest, it will certainly be noticed. Boasting about our honesty makes it look like we are trying to hide our dishonesty. Even if we are falsely accused of evil, we shouldn’t loudly proclaim our innocence—God will take care of that.

Just as the sun shines in a dark world, a person’s honesty is like a guide for people in a dishonest world. The prophet Micaiah was honest when he told Ahab that he would get killed in battle at Ramoth-gilead.

The sun’s light produces warmth and promotes life, just as honesty is heart warming to others. In his early twenties, Abraham Lincoln became postmaster of New Salem, Illinios. His job was selling stamps for the government and delivering mail. A few years later a government agent came to Lincoln’s law office to collect seventeen dollars in stamp money. From one of his trunks, Lincoln took out a rag containing the exact coins he had collected from selling stamps years before. Lincoln could have used the money to help pay off his debts, but he knew it wasn’t his. Seeing an outstanding example of honesty is refreshing and inspiring.