The Best Policy

HONESTY ATTRACTS THE TRUST AND RESPECT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

Bible Reading of the Day: Read 1 Samuel 12:1-5.

Verse of the Day: “Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty” (Proverbs 11:3).

“Who’s going to keep score?” Darlene asked.

Darlene and a few of her friends had gathered for a slumber party at Darlene’s house, and they were preparing to play one of their favorite games, a fast-paced game involving a lot of shouting and screaming.

“I will!” Carrie offered, waving her hand in the air like an anxious student.

“Yeah, right,” someone said. “You cheated the last time!… How about Ronette?”

Several voices spoke at once, objecting to Ronette’s nomination.

“OK, OK, if you insist,” said another girl, “I’ll keep score.”

“Oh, please!” Carrie protested. “If I can’t be trusted, you can’t, either!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Remember the time we let you umpire in kickball?” Carrie said. “You called everybody safe!”

The other girl smiled wickedly. “Only if they were on my team,” she answered.

“Come on,” Darlene interrupted. “Just choose somebody.”

“OK,” Ronette offered, “I say we let Darlene keep score!”

“Yeah,” Carrie agreed, turning to Darlene. “You keep score.” She looked at all the other girls in the room, and her gaze was met with nods.

“I don’t want to keep score,” Darlene whined.

“You have to,” Ronette said, handing Darlene a pencil and a pad of paper. “You’re the only one in this room who won’t cheat like crazy! In fact, I’ve never seen you cheat at anything.”

“Yeah,” Carrie said, laughing. She jabbed Darlene in the side with her elbow. “Just keep your eyes on Ronette,” she said in a mock whisper.

“I’ll try,” Darlene answered, “but it won’t be easy.” She leaned toward Carrie and spoke in a mock whisper of her own. “Because I’ll have to watch you, too!”

TO DISCUSS: What kind of “reputation” do you have among your friends? How do you know?

TO PRAY: “God, help us always remember that honesty truly is the best policy.”