Remember, dishonesty often brings its own punishment.
| posted 1/30/2009
1 of 1
Your friend at work constantly comes in late—and fakes her time sheet. A coworker in your department takes home office supplies. Your boss suggests you cut projected expenses when you present your proposal next week so it's more likely to be accepted. A colleague charges personal lunches on his corporate credit card or makes long-distance personal calls on company phones.
Honest work is an ongoing challenge. You can't be an honesty cop for every person in your company; but if the occasion and the relationship warrant it, it won't hurt to point out possible results of dishonesty: "Somebody might notice that office supplies are missing when they do inventory at the end of the year." "I thought you might want to know that the boss carefully checks the telephone charges."
When your own supervisor suggests dishonesty, the situation is more personal—and more difficult. It may help to describe potential results of the dishonesty in a way that shows your boss how it might backfire. "Our bottom line might suffer" or, "Additional expenses will be hard to explain after the project is finished and may jeopardize future projects."
God hates dishonesty. His prophecy to Habakkuk shows that dishonesty brings its own disaster. Be impeccably honest at work. Perhaps your coworkers will follow your example. (See also Psalm 26; Proverbs 28:11-26; Amos 2.)
Good Words to Remember:
The just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4
Today's Challenge:
What might you say to a dishonest coworker?
Copyright 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.
1 of 1
