Title: The Courage to Be Honest
Contents
Courage to be Honest (1 Kings 15:1-5)
This is the story of John Wannamaker, who opened the first department store in New York. Because he was born into a poor family, he had to drop out of school and earn money by working. I worked as a clerk in a local store. With an honest personality, he candidly explained the pros and cons of things to his guests. The owner, who saw this, advised that he could not make money by doing business only honestly. But Wanamaker insisted that if you want to keep your business going for a long time, you must be honest, even at a loss right now.
The owner was moved by the naive Wannamaker's beliefs and decided to trust him. In the end, Wannamaker's honest management method, which wagered a game with accurate price and accurate quality, gained trust and the store prospered day by day.
Based on this experience, Wannamaker founded a department store and set its management philosophy as "Honesty is the best tactic". As David Turvill puts it, Honesty is the best policy.
A man went to an old clothes store and bought clothes. But when he got home and tried on his clothes, he found jewels in his pockets. The man pondered whether he should return it to his owner or just keep it. After struggling for several days, he went to the wise man. In fact, he wanted jewelry. So I secretly hoped that the sage would decide that I could just have it. But the wise man, who heard all of his story, asked instead of an answer. ‘Do you have children?’ He answered, ‘Yes, I have a son.’ Then the sage said: “Give the jewel back to its owner. And when you go to the owner, be sure to take your son with you. Then you will get something more precious than jewels.”
A British proverb says, "If you want to be happy for a day, go to the barber, if you want to be happy for a week, get married, if you want to be happy for a month, buy a horse, if you want to be happy for a year, buy a house. But if you want to be happy for the rest of your life, be honest." A good lesson is that people are as happy as they are honest. Among the virtues of successful companies, 'honesty' ranks first. According to a survey of 1,300 successful business executives at the University of California School of Business, 71% cite 'honesty' as the most important virtue for business success. However, the problem is that in Korea, 63% of people still think that it is difficult to succeed if you live honestly. 35% of Koreans still report exaggerated tax deductions.
Steel King Carnegie, speaking at a meeting of executives, said the secret of business success: "If you cheat in a business, it will inevitably go bankrupt. Only businessmen who work fairly with blood and sweat get results." he emphasized. In general, honest companies say that 80% of contracts are renewed.
Won Kyung-sun, the founder of Pulmuone, a pioneer in Korea's organic business, was born as the son of a farmer and starved to death. They were so poor that they had no education. Instead, I decided to go to church diligently, study the Bible, and live honestly according to the Word. In this spirit, Pulmuone was established and succeeded in today's organic business. His honesty earned the people's trust.
Seongju Kim, a representative female CEO of Korea and recognized as a global leader abroad, has started a fashion business after returning to Korea after studying abroad. At that time, a senior businessman advised her that in order to succeed in business in Korea, three things should be kept in mind. “First, all transactions are done at a drinking party, so you have to drink well, secondly, you have to be good at lying, and thirdly, you have to offer a white envelope.” However, as an honest man who believes in God, President Kim Seong-ju could not tolerate it at all. Although the duty-free retail business she started out in is so corrupt that it is impossible to survive without paying a bribe, she adheres to the entrepreneurial spirit of honesty. A brand that was selling well because it did not pay a bribe was unfairly expelled. Nevertheless, it has been successful as the best duty-free agent in Korea today by maintaining a consistent and honest management method.
The company has undergone tax audits twice, but is recognized as a transparent company with no tax evasion. The management principle she adheres to is “clean hands” (white to white). Despite this small start with honesty, it has won the competition with over 40 duty-free shops in Korea. However, when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) burst in 1997 and faced a crisis of losing 30 billion won, the famous overseas brand Gucci set out to acquire the company. Gucci thoroughly verified even the smallest details in all information and transaction details of Sungjoo Company. As a result, the company was highly evaluated for being so honest and the contract was concluded at a very good price of KRW 25.6 billion, and the company was miraculously revived. So, the book she published in the form of an autobiographical testimony is 『I Want to Be a Beautiful Bullying Girl in Korea』. Even today, “honesty is the best tactic, honesty is the best policy.”
The virtue of honesty is the basic element of happiness.
The story of today's text is so mysterious. This is the scene where the fourth grandson is blessed thanks to the honesty of his great-grandfather David. Thanks to King David's honesty, the lamp of Jerusalem never goes out. So, in verse 5, David's honest life is admirably praised. "David did what was right in the sight of the Lord all his life, except for Uriah's work (Bathsheba)."
I read a really good article in a book. Honest people enjoy the following happiness:
Those who are honest with God are humble, those who are honest with themselves are proud, those who are honest with their neighbors are fair, those who are honest in their work are sincere, and those who are honest with their colleagues are trusted.
Today we need the courage to live honestly in any adverse situation. You may be treated unfairly or you may be disadvantaged. The losses and sacrifices can be great. Still, it takes courage to live honestly. Only those who can be honest are the happy winners.
I would like to conclude from the Bible as a balance sheet of dishonesty and honesty. First of all, the content of the misfortune that comes to the dishonest is frightening.
First, God hates. “For the rebellious are an abomination to the LORD, but the upright have his fellowship” (Proverbs 3:32).
Second, it harms one's family. “He who covets it harms his house, but he who hates bribes buys it.” (Proverbs 15:27)
Third, you lose the wealth you have acquired. “Wealth acquired in vain is dwindling, but the wealth gathered by hands increases” (Proverbs 13:11).
Fourth, bring the curse of death. “Gathering wealth with deceitful words saves death. It is a fog that is soon to be called away.” (Proverbs 21:6)
On the other hand, the graces and blessings bestowed on honest people are so heartbreaking.
First, we live in close fellowship with God. “For the rebellious are an abomination to the LORD, but the upright have his fellowship” (Proverbs 3:32).
Second, God is proud of honest people. “The Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on the earth so innocent and upright, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:8). “The Lord said to Satan, “You are my servant Did you take note of Job? There is no one in the world so innocent and upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil. You have stirred me up against him for no reason, but he has maintained his integrity.” (Job 2:3)
Third, God takes care of honest people and makes them prosper. “And if you are clean and upright, he will surely visit you and make your righteous house prosper” (Job 8:6).
Fourth, God takes pleasure in the prayers of the honest and answers them with good things. “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight” (Proverbs 15:8). is.” (Psalm 84:11)
Fifth, he blesses the future generations and makes them prosper. “The house of the wicked will perish, but the tabernacle of the upright will prosper” (Proverbs 14:11). (Psalm 112:2)
Today, I am Paul, the representative Christian businessman in the United States of this century. In the words of J. Meyer, I would like to conclude: 【The honest man has it all.】