TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE
Please read Genesis 30:25-36
Let me pass through your entire flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted sheep and every black one among the lambs and the spotted and speckled among the goats, and such shall be my wages. So my honesty will answer for me later when you come concerning my wages. Everyone that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, will be considered stolen.”
Genesis 30:32-33
DEVOTIONAL
by Sandra Chua
In our village, the residents wanted transparency in the accounting of the association funds. They wanted to know where the association dues are being spent, how much, and when. It is not an easy task, though. The list of expenses and collections is long. Very few actually take time to read the reports, and when they miss some reports, questions arise quickly. Many are quick to make accusations without examining the details.
It is the same in many organizations, private corporations, or personal accounting. To gain trust, there must be transparency. It means clear and accurate records as well as easy access to them.
Jacob had worked for Laban for fourteen years, seven for Rachel and another seven for Rachel again after Laban gave Leah to him in the pretext that it was not customary for them to marry off the younger before the older.
He wanted to go back to his homeland and start providing for his growing family. Laban offered to let him stay and even told him to name his price. To make it easy for Laban to check his honesty, he devises a payment plan that is easy to check. He suggests a color-coded payment. All the speckled and spotted and black would be his, and the rest would be Laban’s. Simple and easy, right?
Being transparent helps us avoid the temptation to do wrong. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:12, “We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings.” Let us strive to do the same by making sure we do things in a manner that is not only proper but also easy to check. This will avoid or at least lessen suspicions, which may bring shame to the Lord. It will also help keep us honest because we know our actions can be checked.
REFLECTION
How can we make it easy for others to check our integrity?
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, You see everything. Nothing is hidden in Your sight; everything is laid bare before You. We must give an accounting of everything we have done. Help us not only be honest but also make it easy to let others check our honesty so that Your name will be praised in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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