Chapter — Deshon, Guide
Chapter LIV: Advantages of Honesty
HOW often ladies, in talking about their servants, will go over a list of faults, and wind up by saying: “But, after all, she is as honest as the day. I have never had reason to suspect anything in the shape of stealing or pilfering.” And all who listen get a favorable opinion.
This is expressed well in the old familiar maxim: “Honesty is the best policy.” One may acquire some little gain by cheating or stealing, for a short while, but in the long run he will gain a great deal more by strict honesty. So girls will get better places and better wages as soon as they have an established character for being strictly honest.
These, however, are only considerations of this world; there are vastly more important ones; the approval of God in heaven; the testimony of a good conscience. What kind of a conscience can a thief or a pilferer have? A very bad one, and a very uneasy one. And this uneasy conscience destroys peace, and when peace departs, ill-temper and peevishness set in. One cannot say his prayers with satisfaction. It is all down-hill with good resolutions and piety.
Could we only see how much we stand in our own light by this vice, I am sure we should detest it from the bottom of our hearts. And, after all, what is gained? A small sum of money, a trifling article of dress or ornament, something to eat or drink, which gives no satisfaction when we have it. It is the devil who cheats and deludes us under false pretences, that he may hold us in a most miserable and galling slavery.
On the other hand, what a blessed satisfaction the just man, the man who respects his neighbor’s goods out of love to God, enjoys! The Scripture describes it: “Lord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle, and rest in Thy holy mountain? He that walketh without blemish and worketh justice” (Ps. xiv. 1). Again, it is said in another psalm: “Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place?” The answer is: “The innocent in hands and clean of heart” (Ps. xxiii. 4). Yes, those whose hearts are set to do right, and whose hands are innocent of all picking and stealing.
If we desire an example from Holy Scripture to show how dear to God the man is who is set against all dishonesty, we have the instance of Zaccheus the Publican. When he fell at the Saviour’s feet and exclaimed: “Lord, if I have done any man wrong I return him fourfold,” the Saviour immediately replied: “This day is salvation come to this house” (St. Luke xix. 8, 9).
What speech more consoling and delightful than this could mortal man desire to hear from the lips of the Lord of eternal glory! Set not, then, your hearts on riches at all. Be content with your living, and God, who clothes the lilies of the field, will see that you have food and clothing. You can earn your honest wages, and be satisfied with them. They will and must suffice for all your desires. In short, be poor in spirit, that is, according to the explanation in the Bible, humble, and not set upon riches, but upon pleasing God, and yours will be the kingdom of heaven.