Honesty is the Best Policy

Hello Friends,

How are you doing today? Did you do anything fun to celebrate the Labor Weekend–the last official weekend of Summer? Did you go swimming, did you hangout with family or friends, did you go anywhere, or did you just stay home and relax?

My wife and I popped on over to the Popcorn Festival in Casey, Illinois. We got some free popcorn, looked around at all the fascinating crafts, ate some lunch, and enjoyed being outside. We had a really good time, but we can’t believe that Summer is almost over. Soon the leaves will be changing colors and falling to the ground, combines will be harvesting the fields, cooler temperatures will force us to get out our sweatshirts, and the outside yard work will have to placed on pause until next year. I’m not ready for Fall, but I know I will be excited when Fall comes to town. Are you ready for Fall?

Today, I want us to think about the phrase “Honesty is the best policy.” Have you been honest in your life–always telling the truth? It’s tough to be honest all the time, but we have to try because being honest is what helps us become more like Jesus. To help you understand how meaningful honesty is, I want to introduce you to two historically popular people: Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Have you ever heard of Theodore Roosevelt? He was the 26th president of the United States. Before becoming president, he was a soldier, an author, served as police commissioner of New York City, and was even a cowboy. As a young man, he staked a claim in North Dakota and started his own ranch. During his time as a rancher, Roosevelt and one of his cowhands lassoed a stray calf. They built a fire and prepared to brand the stray. The part of the range they were on belonged to Gregor Lang, one of Roosevelt’s neighbors. According to the cattleman’s rules at that time, a stray belonged to the person on whose land it was found.

As his cowboy applied the brand, Roosevelt said, “Wait, it should be Gregor Lang’s brand.” “That’s all right, boss,” said the cowboy. “But you’re putting my brand on it,” Roosevelt said. “That’s right,” said the man. “Drop that iron,” Roosevelt demanded, “and get back to the ranch, pack your belongings, and get out. I don’t need you anymore. A man who will steal for me will also steal from me.” This story shows us that Theodore Roosevelt had a good understanding of the meaning of honesty.

Now, let me introduce you to the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. At the age of 24, Abraham Lincoln earned an annual income of $55.70 as postmaster at the post office in New Salem, Illinois. In 1836, the post office closed, and several years passed before an agent from Washington D.C. came to settle accounts. In the meantime, Lincoln was struggling as a young lawyer to make ends meet. When the agent finally arrived, he reviewed the books and informed Mr. Lincoln that the closed post office owed the U.S. government $17. Lincoln crossed the open room, opened an old trunk and took out a yellowed cotton rag bound with a string. Untying the cloth he spread out the seventeen dollars. He had been holding it for all those years. “I never use any man’s money but my own,” he said.

Now, I suppose Mr. Lincoln could have lied about the money and gotten away with it, but that’s not the kind of man he was. Long before he entered the White House, 24 years to be exact, the former rail splitter was showing the character that earned him the title of “Honest Abe.”[1] It was that kind of character that caused him to be remembered as one of our country’s greatest presidents.

You see, honesty is ALWAYS the best policy. It honors Christ. It heals relationships. And in the long run, it helps us gain real credibility about who we are.

Jesus told his disciples a story to teach them about honesty. He told them about a rich man who had a manager, and the manager was using the man’s money for himself. When the rich man discovered that the manager was wasting his money, he called him in and fired him. After telling this story, Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

If you and I make sure that we are honest in the small things, like Roosevelt and Lincoln and Jesus’ disciples, then we can be sure that we will be honest in the big things. If people know that they can trust us in small things, they will know that they can trust us in the big things too. Being honest is the best policy because it helps us act more like Jesus in our life. Are you willing to be honest? Are you willing to tell the truth?

Let Us Pray: Dear Jesus, help us to remember what Jesus taught about honesty and help us to be honest in every situation big or small. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!

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[1] Rick Atchley, Sinai Summit, as cited by Darren McCormick on www.SermonCentral.com