Sunday, November 15, 2009

What Counts Is on the Inside

Matthew 23:25-26 (NIV) "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”

A paper for my ethics class I had to reply to the statement “The true measure of business success is found in what is done when no one is looking.” Part of my reply is as follows: The truth of what constitutes the heart of an organization or individual is found when the spotlight is off. It is easy to exhibit good ethical behavior and engage in moral responsibility when others are watching, but what is at the core is what bubbles up to the surface. If an organization or individual is not ethical, does not shoulder a moral responsibility in life, this will eventually rise to the surface. Following rules and behaving ethically is a choice made in the heart, where others cannot see.

Jesus tells us simply, that it is what is on the inside that matters. Too often, I concentrate on the outside, on putting on the right appearance. I need to work more on what is on the inside.

My prayer, O Lord is Psalm 51:10Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a faithful spirit within me”. Help me to be more concerned on what is in my heart than what I am wearing or doing so that my cup is clean inside and out. Amen.

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