The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-11-19
Lesson for November II

Lesson ZOE kVOVckUUGE IA
Lesson subjects and Scripture. texts &c:
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HONESTY IN ALL THINGS
LESSON TExT-Exodus 2o.15: Leviticus
1911. 49, Luke 19:1-10. As. 40.
GOLDEN TExT-Thou shalt not steai.--
Exodus 20:15.
Honesty seems to be so obviously
right that one might expect it always
and everywhere-if bitter expert
ence had not indicated the opposite
to be true.
AS a matter of fact, dishonesty
has become SO common that per-
son who is strictly honest is bit Of
a novelty. Some even think he is
peculiar.
Under such circumstances the
Christian needs to be vigilant lest
he also accommodate his own ideas
of honesty and begin to justify little
evasions rather than being absolute
ly upright.
The teaching of Scripture on this
matter is very plain.
I. Honesty and Fair Dealing
(Exod. 20:15; Lev. 1911, 13).
The very commandment against
stealing implies that men have a
right to that which they have. made,
earned, or saved. If no one had
property rights there could be no
stealing. Some of our modern isrns
deny such rights, but their reasons
ing is clearly not biblical or Chris
tian.
"Thou shalt not steal'' forbids ev-
cry kind of theft, and the passages
from Leviticus indicate that this in
cludes more than robbery or ordi-
nary stealing.
!. It relates to every kind Of false
dealing with another, such as OPP
preston or the withholding of just
wages. That, too, is stealing in
Gods sight.
Perhaps we ought to be more spe-
cific and apply the truth to our own
day. Stealing includes such things
as loafing on ones job, borrowing"
money from the cash drawer, TAX
ing goods from the stock with which
one is working, stealing another
mans sermon and preaching it as
ones own, ''lifting' material out Of
another mans book without credit,
contracting debts which one can
never pay, using false weights and
measures, adulterating food or 9th
er material, watering" milk for
sale, selling worthless stock, lodging
taxes or lying to the tax assessor,
or using slug instead of nickel
in the telephone to escape proper
payment.
One might add gambling (Which is
taking another mans property by
skill or by chance), making an I'M
duly large profit on the labor of an
other, making money out of the sor-
rows and failures of others, etc. To
be honest means to be fair-and that
has broad implications. ~
ii. Honesty and Restoration duke
19:1-1O). gas
The reality and thoroughness Of
Zacchaeus' conversion was indicat-
ed by his willingness to restore all
the money he had unjustly (but le-
gally, note that!) taken from his fell
low citizens-and that in fourfold
measure. t sif
Insofar as it is possible to do so,
the honest person will make right
any known injustice. To be right
with God must mean that we are to
be right with men. The testimony
of many Christians could be pre-
scented to show that they have only
entered upon real peace and USE
fulness as they have made consist
ent effort to right every wrong, to
pay every debt.
Often such actions open opportu-
mites for Christian testimony and
point others to the redemption in
Christ, which makes a man live
right as well as talk right.
iii. Honesty and Religion duke
1915, 46). + ~ -t -oI
lone might think it unnecessary to
urge honesty upon religious folk.
They ought to be honest. But here
We see in sharp contrast to, the
quick honesty and restitution of Fac
chaeus, the stubborn disobedience
and dishonesty of the priests in the
temple. Jesus had already cleansed
the temple Of the traffic in money
changing and the sale of animals for
sacrifice practiced there (see John
2:13-17). On that occasion He re-
buked them because they made His
Fathers house "a house of mer-
chandise."
Had they known the change Of
heart of converted Zacchaeus they
would have needed His admonition.
But they did not believe in Christ
and went on with their ungodly desc
Grafton of the temple area until it
became "a den of thieves" ". 46).
What happened so long ago needs
application to our present day. So
apt is the quotation from the LES
son Commenfarv'' which we have