September 23
Honest Dealings,
Honest Heart
"In everything, do to others what you would want them to do to you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about."
Matthew 7:12 (NIrV)
Theo wiped his hands on his jeans and stepped back to look at the car. It looked good—shiny, newly washed, the tires even had a bit of a gloss on them. But looks could only hide so much. He knew what was underneath. The engine had issues, the transmission was shaky, and if the buyer didn’t check closely, they wouldn’t know until it was too late.
That was the plan.
He had listed the car for a decent price—not too high, but high enough to make a profit. He told himself it wasn’t really lying. He just wasn’t saying everything. Besides, he needed the money. Bills were piling up, and work had been slow. A clean sale would help him breathe a little easier.
The sound of footsteps pulled him from his thoughts. An older man and a teenage girl approached. The girl, around nineteen, looked at the car with wide eyes. “This is perfect, Dad!” she beamed.
Theo’s stomach twisted.
The father smiled and reached out to shake Theo’s hand. “Thanks for meeting us. This is for my daughter—her first car. She’s been saving up for over a year.”
Theo forced a smile, but something inside him felt heavy. The girl ran her hands along the side of the car, excitement shining in her eyes. “You said it runs great, right?”
Theo hesitated. The words were on the tip of his tongue: Yeah, it’s in good shape.
But then, something stirred in his heart. Would you want someone to do this to you?
He thought about his own daughter. She was younger, only ten, but one day, she’d buy a car. What if someone did this to her? What if someone took advantage of her inexperience just to make a quick buck?
Theo swallowed hard.
“Listen,” he said, exhaling. “I need to be honest with you. The car looks good, but it’s got some issues. The engine’s been acting up, and the transmission might need work soon. I don’t feel right selling it to you without telling you that.”
The father’s expression shifted from excitement to surprise. The girl’s shoulders slumped.
Theo braced himself for anger, but instead, the father extended his hand again. “Thank you,” he said. “Most people wouldn’t have told us.”
Theo let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. Maybe he lost a sale today, but he had gained something far more valuable—a clean conscience and a heart that honored God.
Later that night, as he lay in bed, he whispered, “God, thank You for stopping me. Help me to always do what’s right, even when it’s hard.”
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank You for reminding us that honesty and integrity matter.
Help us to treat others the way we want to be treated, even when it’s tempting to do otherwise.
Give us the courage to choose what is right over what is easy.
Shape our hearts to reflect Your goodness in all that we do.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
