Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
24 July, 1996 - Singapore
Good Morning!
GOUGING OUT YOUR EYE AND CUTTING OFF YOUR HAND
WHAT PRICE ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY AND TO WHAT LENGTHS ARE YOU
WILLING TO GO IN ORDER TO REMAIN PURE DURING YOUR PILGRIMAGE
BETWEEN HERE AND ETERNITY?
Consider the alarming teaching of Paul in I Corinthians 6:9b,
10,
"...Do not be deceived;
neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall
inherit the kingdom of God."
Jesus, in recognizing our proclivity toward lust and theft,
said in effect that we should take whatever measures necessary
to resolve these problems.
EVEN TO THE POINT OF GOUGING OUT OUR EYE OR CUTTING OFF
OUR HAND:
"And if your right eye
makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it
from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your
body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off,
and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the
parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into
hell." (Matthew 5:29-30)
Now I doubt that anyone reading this communiqué is blatantly
stealing from their friends or even from their adversaries. But
is it possible that in our business dealings we steal from them
through such tactics as,
Exaggerating
what we can deliver -- Omitting
to tell what we cannot deliver -- Delaying
services, payment and compensation -- Bending
the laws to ease procuring, accounting, manufacturing and marketing?
Recently, in reflecting on this tough issue of ethics in business,
I came to the personal decision that I would rather
clean toilets for a living in the most backwater area of the world
and maintain my integrity than compromise my virtue and risk heaven.
GOUGE OUT YOUR EYES AND CUT OFF YOUR HAND? Yes!
If that is what it takes to live a life that is reflective of
Christ's character.
My prayer is that you are having a great week!
Dwight Hill
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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