Finance
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The Need of Integrity
If the canvasser pursues a wrong course, if he utters falsehood
or practises deception, he loses his own self-respect. He may not be
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conscious that God sees him, and is acquainted with every business
transaction, that holy angels are weighing his motives and listening
to his words, and that his reward will be according to his works; but
even if it were possible to conceal his wrong-doing from both human
and divine inspection, his own knowledge of the sin is degrading to
mind and character. One act does not determine the character, but
it breaks down the barrier, and the next temptation is more readily
entertained, until finally a habit of prevarication and dishonesty in
business is formed, and the man can not be trusted.
In the family and in the church there are too many who make
little account of glaring inconsistencies. There are young men who
appear what they are not. They seem honest and true; but they are
like whited sepulchers, fair without, but full of corruption within. The
heart is spotted, stained with sin; thus the record stands in the heavenly
courts. A process has been going on in the mind that has made them
callous, past feeling. But if their characters, weighed in the balances
of the sanctuary, are pronounced wanting in the great day of God, it
will be a calamity that they do not now comprehend. Truth, precious,
untarnished truth, is to be a part of the character.
Whatever way is chosen, the path of life is beset with perils. If the
workers in any branch of the cause become careless and inattentive to
their eternal interests, they are meeting with great loss. The tempter
will find access to them. He will spread nets for their feet, and will
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lead them in uncertain paths. Those only are safe whose hearts are
garrisoned with pure principles. Like David they will pray, “Hold up
my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.”
Psalm 17:5
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constant battle must be kept up with the selfishness and corruption
of the human heart. Often the wicked seem to be prospered in their
way; but those who forget God, even for an hour or a moment, are
in a dangerous path. They may not realize its perils, but ere they are
aware, habit, like an iron band, holds them in subjection to the evil
with which they have tampered. God despises their course, and unless
they turn from their evil ways, His blessing can not attend them. Life