2 Samuel 12:1-13
About twenty years ago, a woman walked into a toyshop in a small UK town called Amersham and talked to the owner about his window display. It was October and the window was full of Halloween paraphernalia. She suggested to Gary, the owner, that he should not be selling such material. She was a Christian and explained why. She told him that God would honour him if he stopped. The owner demurred and didn’t change his shop window. Later that year, however, he took all the leftover stock that he would normally have kept for the following year – hundreds of pounds worth – and burned it. He has never sold Halloween paraphernalia since.
At the time it felt like a one-off decision, but the principles behind that decision were to set the future pattern for his decision-making about his business. Today that business, The Entertainer, has expanded from one store in Amersham to become the largest independent retailer of toys in the UK, despite not opening on Sundays. Of course Gary knows that obedience to God does not mean that God has to bless his business – there are plenty of godly, competent Christians whose businesses have failed. At the same time God is his Father and Gary is in no doubt that the reason his business has consistently outperformed the overall toy industry is down to God.
But how did it all begin? One woman walked into a local toy shop and spoke up for truth and justice. And even if Gary had ignored her, that would still have been a glorious thing to have done.
Mouthpiece
Being a mouthpiece for truth and justice. It’s a portentous-sounding phrase and perhaps conjures up images of Kate Shepherd or Martin Luther King Jr or Gandhi or sit-ins outside embassies, or a lone, slim figure standing in front of a tank in Tiananmen square. Still, falsehood and injustice are found in all kinds of places – in school corridors as well as parliamentary ones, in sitting rooms as well as boardrooms.
God hates lies and God loves truth. God hates exploitation and God loves generosity and justice. Hence speaking up for truth and justice glorifies God and is another way for us to be fruitful. And since it’s an aspect of godliness it needs wisdom and a right motivation. It’s easy simply to speak out of anger or resentment or self-interest. In most contexts, to speak up is potentially costly because you are calling someone to account for their actions. Often they don’t want to know which is why we need to be careful. We have a prime example in our Bible reading.
It’s a risky business telling the truth as Nathan well knew. Before he passed on God’s message to King David Nathan thought his approach through very carefully and prayerfully. It worked because God was in it. We, too, need to do our thinking and praying and planning.
This message was well planned and thoroughly prepared. Have a look.
On the spot
Not all standing up for truth and justice is as big-time or as planned as the examples we have seen so far. Often we have to respond instantly – but that too takes preparation, albeit of a different kind.
Claire was a secretary in a large company. At a time management workshop, the trainer’s response to one particular problem was: “You could just lie – say he’s out of the office.” Claire’s retort was just as simple and direct:”Well, no, I couldn’t, because I don’t lie.” Afterwards she reflected on “How dreadful that sounded, how pious, how goody-two-shoes.” But on the other hand, why let a highly paid trainer think that their considered professional ‘wisdom’ is useful when it isn’t? Why pretend it might be right to do something you wouldn’t do? Why let someone think that you are a certain type of person when you aren’t? And besides, Claire, though quite young, worked for the head of a division and other staff looked to her as an example. Why let other people think that lying is the right way to handle issues in our division?
If Claire had her time again, she might have said it differently, but then again we don’t always get to say it perfectly. And we certainly don’t have to say it like other people might. We discover our own ways that suit our personality. Our preparation is in our hearts. Spontaneous truth talk comes out of our relationship with God – what we have learned and lived over the years.
I’ve been in situations similar to Claire’s a number of times. I suspect you have too. Situations where an untruth or an injustice needs to be challenged. I have to admit that I have not always spoken up for truth. When I do speak for truth it can be nerve-wracking (actually, saying nothing can be nerve-wracking) but, when I have spoken up, there is a good feeling that comes from knowing I’ve done the right thing.
At the personal level
Falsehood and injustice hurt people and destroy relationships. Promoting truth and justice heals people and restores relationships. In promoting truth and justice we glorify God and encourage godliness in people. “I’m sorry” and “I forgive” are words that produce justice and glorify God.
We can all practice reconciliation on the personal level, as in this video.
Conclusion
Change can take time, but good change is worth persevering for.
I wonder, where is there untruth and injustice on your frontline?
And is there something for you to say with grace and courage?
May the Lord give you wisdom to know what and when and how.
Prayer
Father, help me to love mercy, seek justice and walk humbly with you on my frontline. Give me ears to discern where falsehoods reign, eyes to see where injustice has its roots, wisdom and courage to cultivate truth and justice. For your glory may it be. Amen.