The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Erin M. during the 2007-2008 League.
Ok, so your neighbor is away and she put you in charge of receiving her mail, newspaper, feeding her cat, and watering her plants. There are about roughly 2 clouds in the mainly clear sky. And even though you know that you were given specific instructions to water the plants every day in the morning and the evening, unless it is raining. You think to yourself, "Well, MAYBE those clouds will rain later. I'll wait and see." Even though you know that it won't rain, you go about your day. You never watered the plants in the evening, and when you did water them, it was only every other day.
The Merriam Webster online dictionary defines truth as, "sincerity in action, character, and utterance. The property of being in accord with fact or reality." According to that definition alone, there is basically no excuse to ever tell or report anything other than the absolute truth.
Psalms 15:1-3 says, "LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman." . Psalms 31:5 says, "Into your hands I commit my spirit, redeem me Oh Lord, the God of truth!" David knew that Jesus is not looking for perfection. He's simply looking for the truth. No one is perfect and God knows that, however there is no excuse to tell a lie.
Prov. 14:25 says, "A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful."
Deceitful is defined as, "having a tendency or disposition to deceive : not honest." We want to strive everyday to be a truthful witness. A truthful witness saves lives, that means that a false witness ends lives. The truth will always set you free. The Lord guarantees us of that. Maybe it won't be free physically as in if you admit that you robbed the bank they'll let you go; however spiritually and mentally you will be free.
Prov 16:13 says, "Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth." Everyone wants to be noticed by a leader. The best way to do that is through results; results that will come only by honesty. "The truth is that I have a good work ethic, and here is my proof." That is the only way to maintain truthfulness in the work place. If you spend all day on the internet goofing off when you could be doing something productive for the company, you are not showing that you are an honest worker.
Remember the job that you were supposed to do for the neighbor? You didn't water the plants like you said you would. You slacked off, and she, being a good gardener will notice that. You have just cost yourself not merely wages, and the feeling of a good honest days work, but you have just cost yourself your reputation. Now, when she thinks of you, she will not think of the great job you did and how wonderful it is to have a trustworthy neighbor. She will now think automatically of lies. As Christians, it is our job to live out our lives truthfully to the best of our ability. Will you?
