The Value of Integrity

It happened more than thirty-three years ago, but I remember the incident as if it occurred last week. My friends and I had finished working the night shift and we went to a nearby buffet restaurant for breakfast. When someone distracted the cashier at the front door, I sneaked by and hurried to the food line. I still don’t know why I did it. I had recently become a Christian, but fell back into old patterns. As I piled food onto my tray I dismissed my nagging guilt.

When my friends joined me a few minutes later, I bowed my head and silently gave thanks. That’s when Tom snickered, “Look at Maffeo. He sneaks in without paying, and then thanks God for his food.”

They laughed with sarcasm. But I wanted to crawl under the table.

I worked at that company for another year, growing in my relationship with Christ as I studied the Bible, attended church regularly and committed myself to prayer. But I could never share my faith with any of those men. They had painted me with a brush dipped in hypocrisy.

“Flee the evil desires . . . and pursue righteousness . . . .” (2 Timothy 2:22).

For good reason, Scripture commands us to flee sin and pursue righteousness. We can't effectively share Christ’s love with others, rescuing them from the devil’s snare, if we ourselves are tangled in his web.

rich
rmaffeo@comcast.net