by David Scott Robertson
“The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight” (Proverbs 11:1).
The cashier at McDonald’s gives you back $1 too much in change.
You give it back.
The art of delighting God.
The man at the produce stand on the side of the road sells a dozen ears of corn for $2.
He always gives an extra ear of corn to the customer just in case one ear is bad.
The art of the delighting God.
The driver comes to a 4-way stop in the middle of Kansas.
You can see for 30 miles in any direction and no other cars are even visible.
The driver makes a complete stop at the stop sign.
The art of delighting God.
Your friend rides his brand new motorcycle to your house to show it off.
He invites you to take it around the block for a spin.
You tell him you can’t because your license in not endorsed to drive motorcycles.
The art of delighting God.
The business owner buys a widget for $10 each.
He resells it in his shop for $25 instead of his competitor selling it for $100.
The art of delighting God.
The mechanic repairs the lady’s car and receives payment.
A week later the symptoms return to the vehicle.
It takes the mechanic 2 hours to diagnose and repair the problem at no additional charge.
The art of delighting God.
The man says “I’ll be there at 9:00am.”
At 9:00am the man is there.
The art of delighting God.
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
“The LORD detests men of perverse heart but he delights in those whose ways are blameless” (Proverbs 11:20).
“This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,
“but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
Is it worth it to take the high road of integrity every time --
Even when it costs you time, money, energy, effort, and lost profits?
What is the payoff for doing things right and doing the right things?
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4)
“When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).
DSR
8/17/02