Just a Little Bit Off

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble.” 2 Peter 1:5-10

Two young masons were building a brick wall - the front side of a high house. One of them, in placing a brick, discovered that it was little thicker on one side than the other. “It will make your wall uneven” the other cautioned. “Pooh!” answered the first, “what difference will such a trifle as that make? You’re too particular.”

“My mother,” replied the second, “taught me that truth is truth, and ever so little an untruth is a lie, and a lie is no trifle.” “Oh,” said the first,” that’s all very well, but I’m not lying and have no intention to.”

“Very true, but you are making your wall tell a lie, and I have read that a lie in one’s work is like a lie in his character - it will show itself sooner or later and bring harm, if not ruin.” “I’ll risk it in this case,” answered the first, and he worked away, laying more brick, carrying the wall up higher until the close of the day, when they gave up and went home.

The next morning, they went to resume their work, and found the lie proclaimed. The wall, getting a little slant from the untrue brick, had gotten more and more uneven as it got higher, and had collapsed in the night.

Just so with every little untruth in your character; it grows more and more untrue if you permit it to remain, until it brings you sorrow and ruin.

Remember - “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23