AN EXPERIMENT WITH TRUTH
A
lady came to a store with a cold storage facility and asked for a dressed
chicken. The shop keeper searched in his freezer and found that only a single
chicken was left. It weighed one and a half kilograms. He carried it to the
lady and told her its weight and the price. She thought for a moment and said,
“I need a larger one. Please give me one weighing at least two kilograms.” The
shopkeeper decided to fool her. He carried the chicken back to the freezer,
pretended to search within it and returned with the same piece. He told her,
“You can have this larger piece. It weighs two kilograms.” The lady thought for
a while and said, “OK, I will take it. But as I expect a few visitors today, I
can’t take a risk. Please give me the other piece also - the one you replaced
in the freezer just now.” The shopkeeper was lost for words.
The commandment against stealing prohibits dishonest
business practices, cheating, evading of taxes, refusing to repay debts,
plagiarism and keeping unauthorized property.
We should speak only the truth. When
words are manipulated to get our own way, even deviating from truth and
righteousness, we go wrong. Jesus taught us, "Just say 'Yes' or 'No' -
anything else you say comes from the evil one" {Matthew 5: 37}.
Honesty
is the best policy. It is a good rule that we should be faithful and truthful
in every action - both big and small.
A true Christian should not tell a lie
even if telling the truth may cause loss, suffering or pain. We should not tell
a lie even if telling the lie may give us money, power or pleasure. St. Paul
advises, "No more lying, then! Everyone must tell the truth to his
fellow-believer, because we are all members together in the body of
Christ" {Ephesians 4: 25}.
“Lying is an ugly blot on a person’s
character, but ignorant people do it all the time. A thief is better than a
habitual liar, but both are headed for ruin. A liar has no honour. He lives in
constant disgrace.” {Sirach 20:24-26}.
“Honest people will lead a full, happy life” {Proverbs 28:20}. Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth
will set you free" {John 8:
32}.
The Bible reminds us, "The Lord
sees everything you do. Wherever you go, he is watching" {Proverbs 5: 21}."The Lord sees what happens
everywhere; He is watching us, whether we do good or evil" {Proverbs 15: 3}.
……………………………………………………………………….
©
By: Prof. Dr. Babu Philip,
Darsana Academy, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India ( Former Professor, Cochin
University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala,
India), Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu,
Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally, Leo. S. John, St. Antony's Public
School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students,
catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit our web-sites:
This is Story No.
327 in the second site. Please click ‘Older Posts’ at
the bottom of a page to read previous stories and click 'Newer
Posts' at the bottom of a page to read newer stories in these sites.
Please click on a word in the 'Story Themes' to read stories
on that theme.
No comments:
Post a Comment