Uprightness, integrity, straight dealing before God and man—these are the essential things without which religious talk, eloquent prayers, and attendance at church or meeting are valueless. It is not that a Christian cannot make mistakes, or fall short of the ideal. If you are looking for faultless men and women, you had better go to the heavenly land right away, for you will never find them here. But if a true Christian blunders, he will instantly own up to it. He never forgets that moral integrity is greater than intellectual eminence. Indeed, Paul reminds us that the possession of outstanding academic gifts, without that love which is the end of the commandment, turns a man into a thing that merely makes a noise (1 Cor. 13:1–2). It should be the lifelong aim of every Christian to possess an uncondemning heart and to have a reputation for honest dealings in the affairs of life. If you are an employer, you will delight to give good wages; if you are an employee, you will find pleasure in giving good service.

The question has been asked, “Why are most rivers crooked?” And the reply is given, “A river becomes crooked when it follows the line of least resistance.” There will come times in your experience when it will be necessary to say, “No,” and there is tremendous power in that little word when it is spoken resolutely and courageously. That word has often been like a giant rock by the sea, as it has encountered and hurled back the mighty waves of temptation. Religious freedom is disappearing from the earth, and, even in our own favored lands, the time may come when unbending fidelity will cost us our lives. Should such a privilege be accorded us, let us pray to God that we may be courageous.