HONESTY by Rufus Baker

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 30, 1867

HONESTY.

By Rufus Baker

I HAVE frequently thought that if there was any one thing in preference to another that added to the influence of a Christian, that thing was strict honesty. To be honest with ourselves, our God and our fellow men, is essentially requisite to salvation. To do this we need to examine ourselves in the light of God's word and inquire, Lord what wilt thou have me to do? and having learned our duty the response of our hearts should be, Lord I will do whatsoever thou requirest. This would strictly be taking an honest course with ourselves. We have duties which we owe to God because he is our Creator, and as the ruler of the universe he has a right to claim our service. God gave his only begotten son to die, that we through his death and sufferings might have eternal life; and shall not we in return, render him the homage of our hearts? This would be but reasonable and right. God has also other claims upon us. He claims a portion of our substance to advance his cause, and shall we withhold that which rightly belongs to him? God forbid! He speaks of a people who have robbed him by withholding tithes and offerings, and adds that they are cursed with a curse. The Lord requires his people to bring all their tithes into the storehouse. Should we not therefore come right up to the tithing system, put our property down at its full value, and thereby render to God the things that are God's, as well as to Cesar the things that are Cesar's? This is not all. The Lord requires offerings as well as tithes. These also should be liberally brought into the storehouse in order to obtain the blessing which he proposes to bestow upon his children. Here let me ask, Can a person withhold any of these things and be strictly honest with God? I leave the reader to judge.

Again we may be dishonest with our neighbor, by withholding that which rightly belongs to him. It is said “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. Prov. xi, 1. Paul says, Recompense no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. Rom. xii, 17. We are not only required to provide things honest, but to do it in the sight of all men, so that others seeing our good works may be led to glorify our Father in Heaven. Men of the world who are honest in their deal, punctual and true to their word, and so arrange their affairs that they can always meet their engagements at the appointed time, are those who command the greatest respect. But on the contrary those who are slack in their dealings, buy goods with no probability of paying, make promises and scarcely ever fulfill them, are those who have but a little if any influence. Just so it is with the Christian. The slack course of many has been a living reproach to the cause. Some are poor and plead this as an excuse, but this is no reason why they should not be honest. Poverty is often caused by bad management. They rush presumptuously into things and before they are aware of the consequences, find themselves involved in difficulties from which they are unable to extricate themselves. This trouble might be avoided to a great extent by a little humility on the part of such. If they would counsel with their brethren of experience, that the lack of one might be supplied by the sufficiency of the other, they would save themselves much mortification, and the cause much reproach. Those who fill responsible positions in the church should especially be men of honesty. This principle was carried out in the days of the apostles. At the time time when the disciples were multiplied and the widows were neglected in the daily ministration, it was thought best to select seven men to take the oversight of that matter, and these were to be men of honest report and full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. Acts vi, 3. The same principle is taught in Paul's epistle to Tim., in speaking of the qualification of the bishop. “A bishop then must be blameless;” and he says, “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil.” In speaking of the deacons he adds, “And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon being found blameless.” Oh! what a mighty influence the church would have if all its members lived strictly honest and blameless lives. The cause would then move forward, and sinners, instead of living upon the faults of professed Christians, would fall in love with the holy principles of religion, and many be gathered into the fold of truth. In conclusion let me say with Paul, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil. iv, 8. RUFUS BAKER. Mackford, Wis.